By Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has honoured veterans and paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives and youth in the struggle for the country’s freedom.
The head of state paid his tribute as the country commemorated the 71st anniversary of the 1955 Torit Mutiny.
In a statement marking Veterans Day on Tuesday, Kiir described the August 18, 1955 mutiny by soldiers of the Equatoria Corps in Torit as a defining moment in South Sudan’s history.
“This August 18th, 2026, is Veterans Day; we remember the sons and daughters of South Sudan who heeded the national call to fight for our freedom. This Veterans Day marks the 71st year since the soldiers of the Equatoria Corps in Torit mutinied and began our struggle for nationhood,” Kiir said.
The president called on South Sudanese to remember the veterans and their contribution to the country’s long journey toward independence.
He said honouring their sacrifices should also serve as a reminder of the need for unity, peace, and national stability.
“In honour of their sacrifices, I urge you to remain united and focused on the quest for stability in our country. This is the only path towards peace and development,” he appealed.
Kiir urged citizens to use Veterans Day to reflect on the sacrifices of those who came before them and to remain committed to building a peaceful and stable country.
The uprising involving southern soldiers in Torit occurred on the eve of Sudan’s independence from British-Egyptian rule. It preceded decades of armed conflict between forces in the north and south.
The 1955 Torit Mutiny is one of the most important events in the history of South Sudan. It is remembered every August 18 because it became a major turning point in the southern Sudanese struggle for political autonomy and, eventually, independence.
At the time, Sudan was still under the Anglo-Egyptian administration and was preparing for independence, which came on January 1, 1956.
The southern soldiers serving in the Equatoria Corps, a predominantly southern unit of the Sudan Defence Force, had growing concerns about their future in a Sudanese military increasingly dominated by northern officers.
On August 18, 1955, soldiers of No. 2 Company of the Equatoria Corps in Torit refused orders to leave for the north.
The dispute centered on the soldiers’ transfer and their distrust of the political and military arrangements being made as Sudan approached independence.
The confrontation escalated into a mutiny, with soldiers seizing weapons from the armoury.
The uprising did not remain confined to Torit. Mutinies and disturbances spread to places including Juba, Yei, and Maridi, while violence also affected civilians. Northern troops were subsequently deployed to suppress the rebellion.