South Sudan’s Vice President Josephine Lagu will lead a government delegation to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, scheduled for Sept. 23–29, the government announced on Tuesday.
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly formally opens on Sept. 9, 2025, with the High-Level General Debate set to begin on Sept. 23.
Lagu, who represents the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) under the 2018 power-sharing peace agreement, was appointed one of the country’s five vice presidents in February after previously serving as minister of agriculture.
President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar—currently in detention—and other senior leaders, including Lagu, signed the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) to end a five-year civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people.
However, key provisions of the agreement—such as the unification of armed forces, drafting of a permanent constitution, and the organization of national elections—remain unimplemented.
Lagu’s selection was announced during a meeting with Anina Akiki, the UN Deputy Special Representative to South Sudan, according to state broadcaster South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC).
The annual assembly is expected to bring together global leaders to address issues including peace, climate change and sustainable development.
Lagu is expected to deliver a national statement outlining South Sudan’s ongoing political transition, economic recovery efforts, and humanitarian priorities.
It is not yet known how many officials will accompany Lagu this year.
The session will also include side events focused on global health, youth empowerment and humanitarian response, offering South Sudan an opportunity to seek international support and development partnerships.
However, South Sudanese human rights advocate Ter Manyang Gatwech has called on the United Nations to bar the official South Sudanese delegation from participating in the UN General Assembly.
In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj, Manyang accused the government of failing to implement key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement, saying continued delays have deepened instability, worsened human rights abuses, and prolonged economic hardship.
“Half of our population is either living as refugees in neighboring countries or internally displaced within South Sudan. The entire nation is facing extreme poverty, while political leaders remain detached from the daily suffering of the people,” said Manyang.
He also condemned the ongoing detention of political figures, calling it a breach of the peace deal’s principles and a setback to national reconciliation.
“Allowing this delegation to attend the UN General Assembly is not only a misrepresentation of the people of South Sudan but also a waste of international resources—especially at a time when civil servants have gone without salaries for over 36 months,” he added.
Manyang urged the international community, particularly UN Secretary-General António Guterres, to take a firm stance by denying the delegation access to the UNGA platform.
“The people of South Sudan deserve durable peace, not diplomatic representation that does not reflect their suffering or aspirations. The international community must stand with the people, not with those who perpetuate their misery,” he concluded.