(Torit) – The Government of Eastern Equatoria State and the wider South Sudanese public are mourning the death of Hilary Dilang Odwar, a veteran politician and former Minister of Mining, who passed away in Canada after a long illness.
Dilang died on Monday, 24 June 2025, at Kitchener Ontario Hospital in Canada after battling cancer for nine years. He was 64.
A condolence message dated 25 June from Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore described Dilang as a committed and patriotic leader who devoted his life to national service and the welfare of South Sudan.
“His contribution will be remembered and cherished for generations to come,” the governor wrote, extending his sympathies to the family, friends, and people of Eastern Equatoria.
Hilary Dilang began his political career in 2010, when he was elected as a Member of the National Legislative Assembly, representing Eastern Equatoria. He later chaired the Energy and Mining Committee, where he became known for pushing resource governance issues to the forefront of national debate.
In November 2014, he left the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to join the opposition SPLM-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) under Dr Riek Machar. Within the SPLM-IO, Dilang served as deputy chairman and deputy commander-in-chief, gaining national recognition for his role in the peace process.
Following the signing of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, Dilang was appointed in March 2020 as Minister of Mining in the unity government. However, he stepped down in August 2021, citing persistent health issues and growing ideological differences within the party. He later aligned himself with the SPLM-IO breakaway faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual.
Born in Eastern Equatoria, Dilang spent much of his adult life in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He earned a master’s degree in geophysics and worked in the Canadian geophysical industry until 2005, when he returned to South Sudan during the post-Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) period.
