CRN News Desk
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has ordered flags to fly at half-mast following the death of General Joseph Lagu Yanga, a veteran liberation leader credited with leading the Anyanya One movement during Sudan’s first civil war.
Lagu died in Juba on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at the age of 95, marking the end of a historic chapter in South Sudan’s struggle for self-determination.
Lagu emerged as a prominent figure in the southern Sudanese rebellion during the 1960s, helping to organise and strengthen Anyanya One in its fight against the Sudanese government. The movement sought self-determination for southern Sudan, laying part of the foundation for the region’s long struggle for freedom.
One of his most significant historical contributions was his role in the peace process that culminated in the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, signed under Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry. The agreement ended the first north-south civil war and granted southern Sudan regional autonomy.
Following the peace deal, Lagu returned to military service before embarking on a political career. In 1978, he became President of the High Executive Council of the autonomous Southern Region. He later served as Sudan’s Second Vice-President from 1982 to 1985.
His legacy remains closely tied to the history of southern Sudan’s liberation struggle, the pursuit of self-determination, and efforts to achieve peace through negotiations.
As South Sudan mourns one of its veteran liberation figures, his contribution to the country’s historical journey will remain part of the national record.