The daughter of South Sudan’s detained former Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Marial Ater Dongrin, has died in a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, days after authorities reportedly declined requests to allow her father to travel and be by her side during her critical illness.

According to Sudan Post, Ayen Marial Dongrin passed away on Tuesday morning in the Kenyan capital, where she had been admitted to the intensive care unit. Details surrounding her illness have not been made public.

Her death has sparked an outpouring of grief, emotion, and renewed concern over the circumstances surrounding her father’s detention.

Dr. Marial, who is being held in Juba over corruption-related allegations, had reportedly sought permission to visit his daughter as her condition worsened.

Despite repeated appeals from members of the public and concerned individuals, those requests were not granted.

Sources close to the family described Ayen as a young woman with a promising future, whose life was cut short, leaving behind deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss among those who knew her.

The situation has drawn emotional reactions, with many expressing anguish over what they see as a painful separation between a father and his dying child.

Observers say the inability of Dr. Marial, who has spent almost two months in detention, to be present in his daughter’s final moments has intensified the tragedy, highlighting the human cost behind legal and political processes.

Messages of condolence have continued to pour in, with sympathizers extending support to Dr. Marial and his family during what is widely described as a devastating period. Many have called for strength and unity for the bereaved family, while remembering Ayen as a light in the lives of those close to her.

Her passing leaves not only a grieving family but also a broader public reflecting on the intersection of justice, politics, compassion, and humanity in moments of profound personal loss.