Why Late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth Deserves State Burial
By Ater Garang Ariath, Aweil, South Sudan
Saturday, 14 March 2026 (PW) — My heartfelt condolence to the great family of late retired Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth Jangdit, Jonglei state government and devoted congregation of Episcopal Church of South Sudan for the loss of great spiritual mentor and liberator of this beloved country.
As nation and South Sudanese people especially the family of Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) grieved the passing on of our great and iconic religious leader late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth Jangdit, which occurred on February 24th, 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. I take this trying moments and call upon the leadership of South Sudan under H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit to takes the responsibility of organizing colorful state burial in honoring the late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth.
The late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth unsung contributions as an iconic religious figure during liberation struggle can only be rewarded by organizing and rally devoted congregation to unite during state organized burial.
The religious leaders, who participated during our struggle for independence South Sudan at different fronts blatantly, deserved state recognition.
I was born and raised in the liberation struggle of which I have vivid memories of critical contributions made by the late retired Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth Jangdit as one of iconic South Sudanese religious leaders during our liberation movement, which played significant roles in shaping the movement and eventually the history of South Sudan we enjoyed today.
As South Sudanese, we must recognized the contributions made by different prominent figures for independence struggle and late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth deserved that recognition by the church fraternity and country’s leadership without being whispered to do so.
Enough has been said, written and read about the undeniable huge contribution made by the late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth not just only to people of Jonglei state, Bor County of Makuach Payam but to the entire country, of which Northern-Bahr El Ghazal state, where the author come from benefited in his exceptional servant leadership that inspired million South Sudanese Christians and non-Christians alike.
He fought against oppression and injustice, advocating for Christianity, peace, equality and freedom in then Sudan and South Sudan after independence. His leadership style of fostering mass mobilization through spiritual and moral principles strengthening the hearts and minds of young people (Red Army) to fight in different fronts for liberation of South Sudan.
The late Archbishop Garang Anyieth relentless vision of transforming South Sudan through words of God and education still resonate up to his last breath, when he told the people that he trusted most, to keep his service throughout by building church and school in his memorial compound.
It is imperative for the leadership of South Sudan to take upon itself despite economic hardship to organize colorful state burial for the late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth and assume responsibility of fulfilling the last wish of the late Nathaniel Garang Anyieth at his memorial ground.
The late retired Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth was not only a spiritual leader to particular community but he was a national figure, liberator and highly respected and influential religious opinion leader, who spread the words of God across South Sudan and beyond. His leadership and Ministry characterized many lives touched, strengthened broken families and springboard for hope and creation of happiness for others.
As nation, we have nothing to be proud of, if we cannot and never honored historic figure like of late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, who’s his religious contribution served as one of big, strong and mighty pillars of South Sudan foundation as a nation.
Personally, I belief, leaders are professionals, who dedicate their lives to guiding and protecting their citizens who they lead and the above description fit our late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, who believed in unlocking the potential of individuals and fostering a collective effort towards a shared vision, much like a shepherd guide a flock according to the Bible he taught widely.
We are on our journey of rewriting the narrative of our beloved country and those who contributed for its realization must be acknowledged individually and collectively.
Therefore, for that apparent reason, I strongly believe the late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth burial should be conducted under the full fledged guidance of both national and state governments in collaboration with church and family organizations. The late Archbishop was a spiritual leader, who knows his power of service to God and people with humility and greatness through faith, peace and reconciliation that symbolized his leadership.
At personal level, I recently listened to his iconic video advice, saying that Dr. John Garang De Mabior, our founding father of the movement (SPLM/SPLA) was able to unite South Sudanese for the liberation struggle because he loved people.
On 25th February, 2026, the Office of the President issued a condolence message in regards to the passing of Archbishop, but the condolence message should indicate the necessary preparations underway by the leadership in honoring immense contributions made by this renowned religious leader in question.
Lastly, late retired Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth deserved national government state burial organized by the government during this period of national mourning, that should features military honors, and lying –in-state for public viewing, and grand procession before taking to Jonglei state as a last destination for burial.
The author, Ater Garang Ariath, is a South Sudanese journalist with Bachelor Degree of English and Literature at University of Bahr El Ghazal and Postgraduate Diploma of International Relations and Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership and Governance at University of Juba, National Transformational leadership Institute (NTLI) and pursuing Master of Arts in International Relations (IR) at University of Juba and former Secretary General of Defunct Aweil East State, resides in Juba, Republic of South Sudan, and can be contacted at [email protected].
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