THE BETRAYAL OF GEN. JOSEPH LAGU: Honoured by State, Denied by His Own.

A deeply respected man who deserved the highest honour in South Sudan and the world, General Joseph Lagu Yanga has passed away, leaving his community feeling sidelined by his own leaders. I hesitated to write about his death because his life and political weight are difficult to capture in words. However, the circumstances surrounding his burial have forced me to speak out.

The Promotion to Full General. President Salva Kiir posthumously promoted Mukungu (General) Lagu to full general. Such honorary promotions usually go to officers who die in active service or were intentionally blocked from advancement during their careers. While he certainly deserved recognition, the highest honour would have been best bestowed upon him while he was alive. Promoting him from Lieutenant General to full general now feels meaningless—a gesture that serves little purpose other than to appease political observers.

The State Burial. There is no doubt that General Lagu deserves an unconditional state burial. He was one of the earliest surviving freedom fighters and the key commander who trained many of the SPLA loyalists who eventually secured South Sudan’s independence. We applaud President Kiir for granting him this honour.

The Location of the Burial. Although General Lagu deserves a state funeral, the decision to bury him in Juba does not reflect a collective agreement among the community, certain family members, or the wishes of the deceased. Reliable sources indicate that General Lagu wished to be buried in Nimule. If that is true, forcing a Juba burial is a historic misstep.

Must a state burial always take place in the capital? Unless the constitution dictates it—and I have seen no such rule—state burials can happen elsewhere: for example, Julius Nyerere (founding president of Tanzania) was buried in his home village, Nelson Mandela (South Africa) was laid to rest in his hometown of Qunu and Moses Ali and Milton Obote (Uganda) were buried in their respective hometowns. General Lagu could, and should, be buried in Nimule or Moli, where he hails from.

Burial at the Dr John Garang Mausoleum. This specific detail is what compelled me to write. I learned that General Lagu will be laid to rest beside Dr John Garang. How is that an honour? We should not cram two monumental historical figures together if we truly want to celebrate their individual legacies. If he could not be buried at home, General Lagu deserved his own dedicated mausoleum.

To the Madi community, this is not a matter of partisan politics. Whoever opposes a proper, dignified resting place for Mukungu in his home area will face the spiritual weight of the Jomoboloko and Jupala. Those ancestral spirits are alive, and they listen. If we can bury local heroes like the Lopirigo at their residential homes, is Mukungu an outcast meant to be tucked away in the capital?

Finally, General Lagu was a national figure, yet he possessed deep roots (Pa) that must be protected so his spirit can inspire a new generation of leaders. The confusion in Juba is a betrayal of a celebrated life. We need General Lagu to have his own distinct resting place, if not in Nimule.

Sir. Abunerry Blogcast

Brutal Writer, Critic and Poet. 

Nimule