The influential and long-serving paramount chief of Lakes State’s Rumbek Central County, Madol Mathok Agolder, 87, passed away in Juba age 87 years has passed away today in Juba on Wednesday after battling illness.
Born in 1939, the deceased was popularly known as Agut-kec and succeeded his brother, Maker Mathok, as chief in 1976. He was venerated for contributing to the SPLM/A liberation struggle.
Rumbek Central County Commissioner Manyiel Riak Manyiel confirmed the paramount chief’s death and said he had informed Governor Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor.
“The untimely death of the paramount chief of Rumbek Central County has caused great shock to everyone in the community and across Lakes State,” he said. “The late paramount chief was a well-known community leader to the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and the current president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, during the SPLA liberation struggle because of his immense contribution in terms of human resources and material contributions.”
Commissioner Riak said the doctors who were treating the deceased will reveal the exact cause of death.
For his part, Emmanuel Mading Manon, the chairperson of the Nyang Community of Rumbek Central County, said they have lost a great man. He revealed that the late paramount chief was called back from the Sudan Police Service in 1976 to succeed his late brother Maker Mathok following the latter’s death.
“The late Paramount Chief Madol Mathok passed away today (Wednesday) from a heart attack in Juba”, he said. “My message to the greater Rumbek community is that we have lost a great man of peace. Unfortunately, we have lost a man who was our dictionary and a Bible and also a leader who was supposed to continue guiding us.”
According to Mading, arrangements are underway to take the body of the late paramount chief to Rumbek for burial. He said a grave is being prepared near Bros Hotel in Rumbek.
“The late Paramount Chief Madol Mathok was a great supporter of the liberation struggle and mobilized youth to join the SPLA, contributed food to the then rebels, and hosted several SPLA garrisons.”
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