Joseph Lagu
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lagu is a South Sudanese military man and politician
. He belongs to the Madi ethnic group
of South Sudan.
In May 1960 he graduated from military college in Omdurman
and was commissioned an officer in the Sudanese Army and posted to 10th Brigade, Northern Command.
In the period 1978–1979, Lagu served as the second President of the High Executive Council of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region.
who was recruited in October 1970 and was later to become the chief architect of the second civil war.
by the Sudanese government led by President Gaafar Nimeiry
and the South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM), political wing of the resistance founded by Joseph Lagu when he took overall control of the entire southern resistance in August 1968. The agreement was signed under the auspices of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. The Addis Ababa Agreement granted regional autonomy to Southern Sudan and ensured that Anya-nya and its political arms would be absorbed into the national army, police force and the newly formed national government. Joseph Lagu, who rejoined the Sudanese armed forces with the rank of Major General
, stayed on in the Army to ensure a smooth merger of the disparate forces. The ten years following the agreement gave the country the longest period of relative peace in Sudan's turbulent history, plagued as it was by coup d'etats and civil wars. It also gave Southern Sudan a chance at developing democratic institutions in its own autonomous context.
In 1985 when Nimeiry's government was toppled by his defence minister, Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Suar-El-Dahab, Joseph Lagu also lost his position as 2nd Vice President. Relocating to the UK with his family, Joseph Lagu kept quite a low political profile, though he sometimes appeared on political rallies. The brief military rule that succeeded the coup was followed by a democratically elected government under the Premiership of Sadiq al-Mahdi
. Joseph Lagu was appointed Roving Ambassador by the elected Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. His government in turn was overthrown by Gen. Omar al-Bashir
who has managed to maintain his hold on power since the coup in 1989 to the present day. Joseph Lagu’s post as Roving Ambassador continued under the new regime having been confirmed by President al-Bashir himself. Joseph Lagu was appointed as Sudanese Ambassador to the UN between September 1990 and January 1992. He was then reappointed Roving Ambassador. He resigned from the position in May 1998 after he was appointment as Presidential Advisor, a post that he declined requesting he be relieved of all official duty so as to become a private citizen and an independent voice.
He has recently completed writing his memoirs—Sudan Odyssey Through a State from Ruin to Hope.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He belongs to the Madi ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
of South Sudan.
In May 1960 he graduated from military college in Omdurman
Omdurman
Omdurman is the second largest city in Sudan and Khartoum State, lying on the western banks of the River Nile, opposite the capital, Khartoum. Omdurman has a population of 2,395,159 and is the national centre of commerce...
and was commissioned an officer in the Sudanese Army and posted to 10th Brigade, Northern Command.
In the period 1978–1979, Lagu served as the second President of the High Executive Council of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region.
Civil War
June 1963 he defected from the Army and joined the South Sudan resistance movement against the Government of Sudan. September 1963 he founded Anya nya the military wing of the resistance movement, named after a deadly poison. Anya-nya reinvigorated the movement that erupted on 18 August 1955 and continued the fight against the Sudanese government in the first Sudanese civil war (1955-72) dubbed the 17 Years War. Among Joseph Lagu's junior officers in Anya-nya was John GarangJohn Garang
John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...
who was recruited in October 1970 and was later to become the chief architect of the second civil war.
Peace Process
The war ended in 1972, after a peace agreement was signed in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
by the Sudanese government led by President Gaafar Nimeiry
Gaafar Nimeiry
Gaafar Muhammad an-Nimeiry was the Nubian President of Sudan from 1969 to 1985...
and the South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM), political wing of the resistance founded by Joseph Lagu when he took overall control of the entire southern resistance in August 1968. The agreement was signed under the auspices of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. The Addis Ababa Agreement granted regional autonomy to Southern Sudan and ensured that Anya-nya and its political arms would be absorbed into the national army, police force and the newly formed national government. Joseph Lagu, who rejoined the Sudanese armed forces with the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, stayed on in the Army to ensure a smooth merger of the disparate forces. The ten years following the agreement gave the country the longest period of relative peace in Sudan's turbulent history, plagued as it was by coup d'etats and civil wars. It also gave Southern Sudan a chance at developing democratic institutions in its own autonomous context.
Public Life
After leaving military service he entered public life. He was elected by popular vote to the Presidency of the High Executive Council of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region in 1978 and in 1982 was appointed 2nd Vice President of the Republic.In 1985 when Nimeiry's government was toppled by his defence minister, Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Suar-El-Dahab, Joseph Lagu also lost his position as 2nd Vice President. Relocating to the UK with his family, Joseph Lagu kept quite a low political profile, though he sometimes appeared on political rallies. The brief military rule that succeeded the coup was followed by a democratically elected government under the Premiership of Sadiq al-Mahdi
Sadiq al-Mahdi
Sadiq al-Mahdi is a Sudanese political and religious figure...
. Joseph Lagu was appointed Roving Ambassador by the elected Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. His government in turn was overthrown by Gen. Omar al-Bashir
Omar al-Bashir
Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir is the current President of Sudan and the head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister...
who has managed to maintain his hold on power since the coup in 1989 to the present day. Joseph Lagu’s post as Roving Ambassador continued under the new regime having been confirmed by President al-Bashir himself. Joseph Lagu was appointed as Sudanese Ambassador to the UN between September 1990 and January 1992. He was then reappointed Roving Ambassador. He resigned from the position in May 1998 after he was appointment as Presidential Advisor, a post that he declined requesting he be relieved of all official duty so as to become a private citizen and an independent voice.
He has recently completed writing his memoirs—Sudan Odyssey Through a State from Ruin to Hope.