The Azande Kingdom has congratulated Azande veterans recently honored in Juba, commending their sacrifices, leadership and contributions to the community and describing their legacy as instrumental in shaping the restoration of the Kingdom.
The message was conveyed on Monday by Prince Tadeo Mario Sasa, Prime Minister of the Azande Kingdom, on behalf of His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue, King of the Azande Kingdom, following a September 12 ceremony organized by the Azande Supreme Welfare Organization (ASWO).
The ceremony brought together members of the Azande community to recognize Hon. and Veteran Angelo Beda and other Azande veterans for their contributions across political, military, religious and public spheres.
In the congratulatory message, the Kingdom said the recognition represented an important acknowledgement of the sacrifices and struggles of veterans who had served and represented the Azande community over the years.
The message praised the honorees for what it described as their commitment, love and unity in contributing to the advancement of the Azande people.
“This outstanding success in leadership is a testament to your commitment, love, and unity in shaping the standing of your people,” the message stated.
Veterans’ legacy linked to Kingdom’s restoration, the Azande Kingdom placed particular emphasis on the historical significance of the veterans’ contributions, saying the foundations they established through leadership and community service had contributed to the restoration of the Kingdom.
According to the message, the veterans’ legacy has created a foundation for a younger generation to continue pursuing unity and community development.
“The foundations you laid in leadership and community have culminated in the restoration of the Azande Kingdom and paved the way for the new generation to follow and remain committed in unity,” the Prime Minister said in the message issued in Juba.
The statement presents the restoration of the Kingdom not simply as the revival of a traditional institution, but also as a continuation of a broader historical and community leadership legacy.
The modern Azande Kingdom was restored in February 2022, following more than a century without a recognized kingdom institution after the defeat of the historic Azande state under King Gbudue during the colonial period.
The restoration brought renewed attention to Azande cultural heritage, traditional leadership, unity and the preservation of the community’s historical identity.
The veterans honored during the September 12 event were recognized for contributions extending beyond military service.
The Kingdom’s message specifically acknowledged Azande veterans and leaders who have served the community through political, military, religious and public endeavors.
That broad recognition reflects the changing role of veterans within the community, particularly those who have continued to participate in public affairs after their periods of military or political service.
The Kingdom said their contributions had helped raise the standing of the Azande community nationally and regionally.
“Your legacy is recognized nationwide and regionally, and it stands as a source of great pride for the Azande Kingdom today,” the message said.
The Azande Kingdom said it was unable to attend the September 12 ceremony in person because of what it described as “unavoidable circumstances.”
Prime Minister Prince Tadeo Mario Sasa nevertheless conveyed the King’s congratulations to the veterans and the wider Azande community in Juba on behalf of the Kingdom.
The message was dated September 14, 2026, two days after the veterans’ recognition ceremony.
The Prime Minister’s office also copied the communication to the King, the Abanyaki of the Azande Kingdom and the Azande Council of Elders, highlighting the institutional significance attached to the recognition.
Beyond honoring veterans, the Kingdom used the occasion to emphasize continuity between generations.
The message suggested that the current generation has a responsibility to build on the foundations established by earlier community leaders and remain committed to unity.
The call comes as the restored Azande Kingdom continues to develop its modern institutional identity while seeking to preserve cultural traditions and strengthen ties among Azande communities.
The Azande people are spread across parts of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, making questions of cultural identity, unity and cross-border community relations particularly significant.
For the Kingdom, the recognition of veterans therefore serves both as a tribute to the past and a reminder of the responsibilities of the present generation.
The message repeatedly placed unity at the centre of its tribute to the veterans.
The Kingdom described the honorees’ achievements as evidence of what can be accomplished through commitment and collective responsibility, while urging younger Azande to maintain that spirit.
The recognition also provides an opportunity for the community to preserve the history of individuals whose contributions may otherwise be lost as generations change.
The Kingdom concluded its message with a call celebrating the veterans, the Azande community and the Kingdom itself:
“Long live the Azande veterans, long live the Azande Community, and long live the Azande Kingdom.”
Signed by Prince Tadeo Mario Sasa, Prime Minister of the Azande Kingdom, the statement places the veterans’ recognition within a broader narrative of sacrifice, leadership, unity and the revival of Azande institutions.
For the Kingdom, the veterans’ legacy is not only a matter of historical remembrance—it is presented as part of the foundation upon which a new generation is expected to build.
