By Deng Gai Gatluak Deng,
May 30, 2022 — South Sudan is the youngest nation in the world. A report by the United Nations shows that as of 2020, the youths in the country constituted 73.7% of the entire population. Majority of these individuals are aged 30 years and below, reflecting the potential of the country. However, a leading problem is that this young generation is facing a lot of challenges trying to survive and make progress in their lives. In an attempt to make ends meet, youths have allowed themselves to be used by politicians as elements of war, considering their age and fighting power.
The youths of South Sudan have also become victims of ethnic-based violent conflicts that erupted from power struggles dating back to the country’s independence period. The youths have a major role to play in the attainment of peace, reconciliation and nation-building. Young people should be involved in the decision-making, especially on matters affecting them currently and in the future. Examples of such decisions would include planning for the 2023 elections and funding mechanisms that can be used to support both the formal and informal sectors that are geared towards youth empowerment and capacity building. For instance, the implementation of the Youth Enterprise Development Funds as provided for in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Following the civil wars in the country, South Sudan has been experiencing famine, human rights violations and food insecurity. These are some of the challenges that are forcing youths to flee the country and seek refuge in neighbouring nations. When making major decisions affecting the nation, the youths should be given a platform to share out some of these concerns and some of the potential solutions they find helpful. Leaders in South Sudan should also involve young people in peace processes to ensure emphasis and sustainability of agreements and initiatives put in place, considering that these young people make one of the largest part of the country’s citizenship.
The current leaders of the R-TGONU should also put in place education and awareness programs to educate the youths on the need to avoid being used as tools of war. Instead, they should serve as partners in the prevention of violence in the country. The empowerment should be directed towards providing them with skills development and livelihood opportunities. Young people should be taught about the need to focus on self-development to help rebuild the economy and education opportunities that were scattered by the war crisis. Education and awareness are interlinked with the spirit of nationalism and patriotism. The reason is that when people are informed of their roles as citizens and responsibility towards each other, they tend to develop, support and participate in inclusive and unifying social and educational programs. These are the initiatives that advocate for changes such as a mix of ethnic groups and tribes in the education system. When people interact, they understand that each person is unique and different.
South Sudan has a lot of untapped potential. The largest part of the country’s population is made up of individuals who are in their innovative phases. In partnership with the Government, these young people can help develop programs that work towards restoring the country’s economy. The south Sudan youths are full of ideas and potential if only the current government can listen to them and take their suggestions seriously. Cases of threats, persecution, and imprisonment should not be used to deny the youths a voice. South Sudan has a lot of untapped potential; what is needed is peace and space for the youths.
Deng Gai Gatluak Deng is an Advocate before all the Courts of law in the Republic of South Sudan, a Founder and Managing Partner at Deng Biny & Co Advocates. He is currently a lecturer at Starford International University (SIU), Faculty of law, where he lectures International law, Company law, Constitutional law and Administrative law. A former member of the National Dialogue Steering Committee. He obtained Master of Laws (LL.M) from Girne American University (GAU), Cyprus – Europe (2017). He can be reached at denggaigatluak@gmail.com
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