Israeli Veteran Recognised for South Sudan Liberation Role

(TEL AVIV) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan, Honourable Ambassador Monday Semaya K. Kumba, has paid a courtesy visit to retired Israeli General David Ben Uziel, a veteran of South Sudan’s earliest struggle for independence.

The meeting, held on 2 August 2025 in Israel, marked a symbolic gesture of gratitude towards General Ben Uziel, whose contributions to the First Sudanese Civil War remain a significant part of South Sudan’s liberation history.

General Ben Uziel, an Israeli national, was a key supporter of the Anya Nya movement during the First Sudanese Civil War, a period often regarded as the foundation of South Sudan’s decades long pursuit of self determination and eventual independence in 2011.

During the visit, Minister Monday Semaya expressed his government’s appreciation for the General’s support to the Anya Nya fighters, a rebel group that represented the southern Sudanese population in their fight against Khartoum’s rule in the 1950s and 60s.

The Minister described Ben Uziel’s involvement as “significant and lasting,” acknowledging the rare but critical international friendships that helped shape South Sudan’s national identity.