There are moments in life that quietly remind people how time changes everything and how some friendships survive war, pain, separation, and history itself.
For many South Sudanese, Major General William Deng Garang is not just another name from the liberation era.
He is one of the men who walked through the harsh years of the bush alongside President Salva Kiir Mayardit, during a time when survival itself was uncertain and independence existed only as a dream carried in the hearts of fighters.
Perhaps, years ago in the forests and battlefields of the liberation struggle, neither President Kiir nor William Deng Garang imagined they would one day sit together in an independent South Sudan, reflecting on memories that once seemed too painful and distant to revisit.
Only days ago, during the 43rd Anniversary of the SPLM/SPLA liberation struggle on May 16, 2026, President Kiir unexpectedly paused his speech before thousands and emotionally recognised William Deng Garang Bany, recalling the difficult wartime years they endured together.
It was not merely a presidential mention. It was the recognition of a brother-in-struggle a man who stood beside him during some of the darkest chapters of the liberation war.
Today’s meeting between the two old comrades carried more than politics or protocol. It reflected the emotional weight of history, sacrifice, and survival.
These are men who once shared hunger, fear, uncertainty, and hope in the bush — long before government offices, state ceremonies, or the independence flag existed.
In another emotional gesture during today’s meeting, President Kiir also presented his longtime liberation colleague, Maj. Gen. William Deng Garang, with a special gift box whose contents were not disclosed.
The President further handed him a brand new vehicle to support and ease his mobility.
For many watching, the gesture was more than a gift. It appeared to symbolize appreciation, loyalty, and remembrance between two comrades whose friendship was forged during the years of struggle.
For many South Sudanese observing the moment, it felt deeply symbolic: two aging liberation comrades meeting again in the country they once fought to create, remembering a journey that cost so many lives and changed the destiny of South Sudan forever.
