JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN – The Government of South Sudan on Friday held a state funeral for the late General Joseph Lagu, a prominent military and political leader whose contributions played a significant role in shaping the country’s history and its long struggle for self-determination.

General Lagu, who died on 27 October, was honoured in a solemn ceremony attended by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, senior government officials, military leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional leaders and hundreds of citizens who gathered to pay their final respects.

The funeral proceedings featured traditional cultural performances by members of the Madi community, reflecting the late general’s heritage, alongside Christian prayers and a church service. The commemorations brought together people from different communities to celebrate the life and legacy of a leader widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in South Sudan’s political history.

General Lagu was laid to rest at Freedom Square in Juba following the official state funeral.

A Pioneer of South Sudan’s Liberation Struggle

General Joseph Lagu is remembered as a pioneering military commander who led the Anyanya movement during Sudan’s First Civil War, which began in 1955.

His leadership helped transform the southern resistance movement into an organised political and military force advocating greater autonomy and recognition of the rights of the people of Southern Sudan.

One of his most significant achievements was his role in the negotiations that culminated in the signing of the historic Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972.

The peace agreement was reached between the southern liberation movement and the Sudanese government of President Jaafar Nimeiri, with mediation supported by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie.

The agreement brought an end to nearly 17 years of civil war and granted Southern Sudan regional autonomy, ushering in a period of relative peace and stability that lasted approximately a decade.

However, the arrangement eventually collapsed in 1983 when President Nimeiri abolished the southern autonomous structures, contributing to the outbreak of Sudan’s Second Civil War.

Despite the eventual breakdown of the agreement, General Lagu’s contribution to the peace process remains a defining chapter in the political history of South Sudan.

From Military Commander to National Statesman

Following the 1972 peace agreement, General Lagu transitioned from armed resistance into national political and military leadership.

He was integrated into the Sudanese Armed Forces and subsequently held several senior positions in government.

Among his most prominent appointments was his leadership of the High Executive Council of the Southern Region from 1978 to 1979.

In 1982, he was appointed Second Vice-President of Sudan, further consolidating his position as a leading southern political figure within the national government.

He later represented Sudan in diplomatic assignments, including serving as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York during the early 1990s.

Following South Sudan’s independence in July 2011, General Lagu continued contributing to national affairs, serving as a special adviser to President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

His decades of service across military, political and diplomatic institutions established him as one of the few South Sudanese leaders whose public careers spanned the country’s struggle for autonomy, the years of Sudanese unity and the establishment of an independent South Sudan.

A Legacy of Education and Community Development

Beyond his military and political achievements, General Lagu remained committed to education, leadership development and community empowerment.

The Joseph Lagu Foundation, launched in 2022, was established to promote educational opportunities, strengthen leadership capacity, support community development and contribute to humanitarian initiatives.

Through these efforts, his legacy extended beyond the political arena, reflecting his commitment to empowering future generations and improving the wellbeing of communities across South Sudan.

South Sudan Mourns a Historic Leader

During the funeral commemorations, political leaders and mourners paid tribute to General Lagu as a distinguished statesman, liberation pioneer and national figure whose contributions helped lay the foundations for South Sudan’s eventual independence.

His death represents the loss of a prominent figure who witnessed and influenced some of the most significant political developments in the country’s modern history.

For many South Sudanese, General Joseph Lagu will be remembered not only as a military commander but also as a negotiator, diplomat and advocate for peace whose leadership helped shape the nation’s journey towards self-determination.

Although he did not live to see all the aspirations of the liberation struggle fully realised, his contributions to the 1972 peace agreement and the political development of Southern Sudan remain an enduring part of the country’s history.

As South Sudan bids farewell to one of its most recognised historical figures, General Joseph Lagu leaves behind a legacy of leadership, service and commitment to the people of South Sudan.