Family of Dr Ding Col Dau Ding continue to demand action over death

Dr Ding Col Dau Ding, who lived in Cromer, is believed to have been murdered in the war-torn African country in October, 2015, where he was practicing medicine. He was 39.

His brother, Dr Dau Ding, said the South Sundanese government had declared his death a suicide, which the UK government had wrongly accepted, rather than pushing for an investigation into what really happened. 

READ MORE: How will Storm Agnes affect Norfolk this week?

He said: “We’ve told them what they need to do to make things happen - there needs to be a letter written directly to the president of South Sudan from someone senior - either the prime minister or the foreign secretary. 

“But they just seem to be kicking the can down the road.

“I think it is a race issue, I’ve seen them do much more for others but if they come from a particular background they don’t.” 

Dr Ding grew up in Aylsham from age 10 and he completed his A-levels at Paston College.

His brother, who now practices in Scotland, said North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker had tried to help and had even raised the matter in parliament, but action needs to come from higher up. 

READ MORE: Talk to reveal half a century of garden secrets

A spokesman from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said they were still working on the issue, and had been in touch with the South Sudanese government since this newspaper got in touch on September 25. 

The spokesman said: "We provided assistance to the family of a British man who died in South Sudan and were in contact with the local authorities.

“The British embassy in Juba has raised this case with the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most recently on September 25, 2023, and we continue to engage on the matter.”