Central Equatoria caretaker governor mourns liberation icon Joseph Lagu
The caretaker governor of Central Equatoria State, General Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani, has joined South Sudanese in mourning the death of veteran liberation leader General Joseph Lagu Yanga, describing him as a revolutionary whose contribution laid the foundation for the country’s independence.
In a condolence message issued on Wednesday, Governor Jadalla said he received the news of General Lagu’s death with profound sorrow, noting that the veteran statesman passed away following a brief illness in Juba.
On behalf of the people and government of Central Equatoria State, the governor extended his condolences to the family of Josephine Lagu, as well as the late general’s relatives and friends.
He described General Lagu as a dedicated revolutionary and seasoned leader whose commitment to the liberation struggle helped lay the foundation for South Sudan’s independence.
“Gen. Lagu was a towering giant of our time, a dedicated revolutionary and seasoned leader whose unwavering commitment to our liberation struggle laid the foundation for our nation’s independence,” Jadalla said in the statement.
The governor also described the late leader as a patriot of exceptional courage, a Pan-Africanist and a unifier who placed peace, national unity and the welfare of his people above personal ambition.
Jadalla said the government and people of Central Equatoria stood in solidarity with General Lagu’s family and all those whose lives were touched by his leadership during the national mourning period declared by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
He prayed for the late general’s soul to rest in eternal peace and asked God to give his family and the nation strength to cope with the loss.
General Lagu was a leading figure in South Sudan’s liberation history and the founder and leader of the Anyanya One movement, which fought against the Sudanese government during the first Sudanese civil war.
His death has prompted tributes from leaders and institutions recognising his role in the struggle for self-determination and South Sudan’s eventual independence.
