South Sudan commemorates Martyrs' Day in memory of John Garang

Written by: Mohammed Omran

revived the state South SudanToday, Thursday, July 30, 2026, is Martyrs' Day, which coincides with the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, John Garang de Mabior, in addition to commemorating all those who lost their lives during the country's struggle.

South Sudan commemorates Martyrs' Day in memory of John Garang

On this occasion, southerners recalled the last moments in the life of John Garang, when he bid farewell to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, before boarding the helicopter that crashed on July 30, 2005, in an accident that ended his life and caused widespread shock in the region.

Martyrs' Day is a national occasion to honor the sacrifices of those who contributed to the struggle of South Sudan, and to renew the call to consolidate the values of peace, unity and stability, which were associated with John Garang's journey and his vision for the future of the country.

The occasion will witness official and popular events to commemorate the martyrs, amid an emphasis on continuing to work towards achieving the people’s aspirations for development, peace and prosperity.

South Sudan commemorates Martyrs' Day without official celebrations due to the economic crisis.

South Sudan commemorates “Martyrs” Day” on Thursday, July 30, amid the absence of official state-sponsored celebrations, after the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage announced that it would not allocate a budget to commemorate the occasion this year, due to the economic crisis and ongoing preparations for the upcoming national elections.

“Martyrs” Day” is a national occasion to honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives during South Sudan’s struggle for independence, foremost among them the late leader Dr. John Garang, who died in a helicopter crash in 2005. The government has declared today an official holiday throughout the country.

Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Sara Nyanath, stressed that the lack of funding does not diminish the importance of the occasion, emphasizing that the value of this national day lies in honoring the sacrifices of the martyrs, not in the amount spent on celebrations.

The minister called on state governments, local administrations, religious and educational institutions and civil society organizations to commemorate the anniversary by lighting candles, holding prayers, observing a minute of silence and organizing community events that promote the values of peace, reconciliation and national unity.

Government plans to establish a national museum
She also revealed government plans to establish a national museum that documents the history of the liberation war and commemorates the sacrifices of its heroes, stressing that the project is still in the planning stage due to limited financial resources.

For her part, Undersecretary Victoria Julia Amon stressed the importance of the role played by the media in consolidating national memory and conveying the message of the occasion to citizens, calling for coverage of events with a spirit of responsibility and patriotism.

Earlier, the US Embassy in Juba confirmed that it was commemorating “Martyrs” Day,” noting that it remembers all those who sacrificed their lives for the right of the people of South Sudan to self-determination, including 6 USAID staff members who lost their lives while performing their duties in the country in 1992 and 2008, and affirming its continued support for peace, democracy and human rights efforts in South Sudan.