Former Anyanya leader, Joseph Lagu, who is the incumbent special advisor to President Salva Kiir Mayardit has urged the Head of State to invest in bilateral relations and cooperation with neighbouring countries.
Lagu said bilateral relations could promote peace in the region and enhance development.
“Mr Lagu urged H.E. the President to strengthen the bilateral relations and cooperation with the neighbouring countries, especially Sudan and other countries, adding that this will promote peaceful coexistence and stability to enhance sustainable development,” read a statement from the office of the President.
He lauded Kiir for the developmental strategies realised in the country, as well as the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Brush with COVID
Joseph Lagu returned to the country in October from London after healing from COVID-19. His wife died from a similar infection.
His reception ceremony was organised at the residence of his daughter, Josephine Lagu, who serves as the national Minister for Agriculture and Food Security. The Governor of Central Equatoria State Emmanuel Adil Anthony paid homage to Lagu during the event.
Adil described Lagu as a “symbol of peace and unity who has been advancing efforts towards national cohesion, independence and freedom from the bondage of oppression from the repressive regimes of the then Khartoum governments.”
Early life
Joseph Lagu who was a staunch Sudanese politician and rebel leader was born on November 21, 1931, at Momokwe in Moli approximately 80 miles South of Juba, South Sudan.
Lagu who hails from the Madi tribe of Eastern Equatoria State graduated from a military college in Omdurman in May 1960. He was assigned the rank of second lieutenant in the Sudanese Army to serve at Shendi in the 10th Brigade, Northern Command.
Anyanya movement
The Anyanya movement was formed during the First Sudanese Civil War which began through Torit Revolution (Mutiny) from August 18, 1955, and ended on March 27, 1972, in the Addis Ababa agreement (16 years, 7 months, 1 week and 2 days struggle).
The name Anyanya came from the Madi language, meaning the “snake venom” that would not spare the enemy. The movement was formed on May 2, 1963, through the union of South Sudanese who were fighting against the oppressive rule of the North including imposing Sharia law on Christian Southern Sudan.
In 1969, Aggrey Jaden abandoned the leadership of the movement due to frustrations and bickering. Gordon Muortat Mayen took over but Ladu who was the Chief of Staff then through his deputy Oliver Batali Albino and diverted arms to himself which were supplied by Israel.
He ousted Muortat from leadership and became the movement’s leader until 1972 when he signed a peace agreement with the north, thus ending the war.
But the agreement was later dishonoured leading to the second liberation struggle, called the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) that resulted in the signing of the comprehensive agreement in Naivasha Kenya, that finally saw South Sudan’s Independence on July 9, 2011.
Relations
President Kiir had recently been focusing on a number of bilateral relations with neighbouring countries like Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia.
He has also been playing a key role in the peace process in Sudan, which saw the reinstatement of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok who was ousted by the Sudanese Military Council.
Kiir also played a role in cultivating peace in Ethiopia between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government of the Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Abiy Ahmed.