By Matik Kueth
Henry Dilah Odwar, a key figure in South Sudanese politics and former Deputy Chairman of the SPLM-IO, passed away early Wednesday in Canada at the age of 78, following a prolonged battle with cancer.
His family confirmed he had been hospitalized in Kitchener, Ontario, just two days before his passing.
Although reports vary regarding his age, some placing him in his 60s, Odwar had been contending with cancer for nearly a decade.
His contributions to South Sudan’s political and mining sectors have been widely acknowledged, though funeral plans remain unannounced.
Originally from Ikotos County in Eastern Equatoria State, Odwar spent a significant portion of his life in Canada.
He earned a master’s degree in geophysics from the University of Manitoba and lived in the country from 1984 until the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
His political career began in earnest in 2010 when he became a member of the National Legislative Assembly, representing Eastern Equatoria.
He chaired the Energy and Mining Committee before breaking from the ruling SPLM in 2014 to join Dr. Riek Machar’s SPLM-In Opposition.
Odwar rose through the SPLM-IO ranks to become Deputy Chairman and later served as Minister of Mining in the transitional unity government formed in 2020.
He stepped down from his ministerial post in 2021, citing both health concerns and political disagreements. Subsequently, he joined a splinter group led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
Odwar leaves behind four children, a legacy of public service, and a profound impact on his family and the political landscape in South Sudan.