Liberation Icon General Joseph Lagu Dies in Juba

South Sudanese liberation icon General Joseph Lagu Yanga has died in Juba at the age of 95, according to a statement attributed to President Salva Kiir. President Kiir has declared national mourning in honour of the late general, ordering all national flags across South Sudan and at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad to fly at half-mast until General Lagu is laid to rest. The President also said he would personally bid the veteran leader a state farewell. President Kiir described General Lagu as a towering nationalist and liberation hero who dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom and self-determination in South Sudan. General Lagu, a former leader of the Anyanya One movement, was a prominent figure in the country’s liberation history and served in military, diplomatic and political roles.

The President praised his contribution to the country’s history, urging South Sudanese to mourn his passing while celebrating his life and legacy. He also called on citizens to unite in prayer for the bereaved family. General Lagu’s death marks the loss of one of the historic figures associated with South Sudan’s long struggle for self-determination. Lagu died on Monday, two days after his family appealed to the public to pray for his recovery following his illness and hospitalization in Juba. He was one of the key figures in the first liberation struggle, leading the Anyanya One movement in its fight against the Sudanese government. His death marks the passing of a major figure in the struggle for self-determination in the then southern Sudan. According to the Joseph Lagu Foundation, Lagu was born on 21 November 1931 in Momokwe, a small settlement in Moli village, in present-day Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State. He belonged to the Madi tribe. Early life and…