Detained former First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar has praised the late Gen. Joseph Lagu as a selfless leader who dedicated his life to the welfare of the people of South Sudan. In a condolence message, Machar described Lagu as a great leader who brought peace and self-determination to Southern Sudan. He noted that Lagu was not greedy for power, citing his willingness to hand over leadership to another person who was not originally part of the movement and liberation.
Gen. Lagu was a prominent figure in Southern Sudan's liberation history, playing a key role in the Anyanya movement and the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement. This agreement ended the first Sudanese civil war and established regional autonomy for Southern Sudan. Born on November 21, 1931, in Momokwe, Eastern Equatoria state, Lagu trained as a military officer before defecting from the Sudanese army in 1963 to join the southern rebellion.
Under Lagu's leadership, the Southern Sudan Liberation Movement negotiated the Addis Ababa Agreement with the government of President Gaafar Nimeiry in 1972. This agreement granted southern Sudan a decade of regional self-government. Lagu's forces included young officers who later became prominent figures in South Sudan's history, including Salva Kiir and the late John Garang.
After the Addis Ababa Agreement, Lagu returned to the Sudanese army and rose to the rank of lieutenant-general. He served as president of the High Executive Council of the autonomous Southern Region from 1978 to 1979 and as Sudan's second vice-president from 1982 to 1985. Following Nimeiry's overthrow in 1985, Lagu settled in Britain before returning to public service.
Lagu continued to play an active role in Sudanese politics, serving as Sudan's roving ambassador from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 1998. He also served as Sudan's permanent representative to the United Nations from 1990 to 1992. After South Sudan gained independence in 2011, Lagu served as a special adviser to President Salva Kiir.
In his later years, Lagu focused on humanitarian work and education. In November 2022, his family launched the Joseph Lagu Foundation, which focuses on education, leadership development, community empowerment, and humanitarian assistance in South Sudan. Lagu also completed his memoir, Sudan Odyssey: Through a State from Ruin to Hope, in 2006.
Gen. Lagu is survived by several children, including Josephine Lagu, who previously served as a vice-president in the Transitional Government of National Unity. Dr. Riek Machar's condolence message highlights Lagu's dedication to the welfare of the people of South Sudan and his commitment to peace and self-determination. Lagu's legacy as a selfless leader continues to be celebrated by the people of South Sudan.
Key points
- Dr. Riek Machar praises Gen. Joseph Lagu as a selfless leader who prioritized peace and self-determination over personal ambition.
- Gen. Lagu played a key role in the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, which granted southern Sudan regional autonomy.
- The Joseph Lagu Foundation was launched in November 2022 to focus on education, leadership development, and humanitarian assistance in South Sudan.
