Youths in Mundri East County called for an end to violence, fighting and killings on Wednesday as they marked International Youth Day in Lui Town, amid recurring tensions and displacement in the area.
Mundri East, in Western Equatoria State, has experienced repeated violence and displacement, partly linked to cattle-related disputes between communities in Mundri and neighbouring Mundari communities in Central Equatoria State.
The International Youth Day event in Lui, held under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, brought together young people, women, community leaders and students.
It was organised by the African Women Help Organization (AWHO) in partnership with youth-led NGO Markaz Al Salam and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), with support from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and other partners.
AWHO Executive Director Moni Tabitha urged young people to use their skills and energy constructively and contribute to peace, unity and development in their communities.
Markaz Al Salam Executive Director Florence Agiba urged young people in Mundri East to organise themselves, saying collective action would make it easier for them to access support and participate in decision-making.
“I want to thank the youth of Lui, Mundri East County, for being organised. Once we are organised, it is easy for young people to be supported,” Agiba said.
Agiba highlighted South Sudan’s National Youth Development Policy as an important step towards strengthening youth participation in leadership. She said the policy defines youth by age and recognises the importance of young leadership.
“Young people said, we want to be part of the leadership of the country,” she said.
Agiba said the policy provides for a 20% quota for youth representation at national, state, county, payam and boma levels.
“We want to see young people taking responsibilities and being leaders,” she said.
Emmanuel Opi, acting youth leader of Mundri East County, commended the organisers and their partners, saying it was the first time young people in the county had officially marked International Youth Day.
Michael Gorjin Kuol, women and youth rights project coordinator at NPA in South Sudan, called for greater youth participation in government and peacebuilding.
Kuol said implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, which recognises the role of young people in peace and security, should ensure meaningful youth participation in preventing violence, resolving conflicts and decision-making.
He also urged young people to make use of the National Youth Development Policy, including provisions aimed at increasing youth representation in government and supporting youth-led initiatives.
Kuol called on authorities and development partners to establish youth councils, strengthen leadership and governance training, create mentorship networks and improve financial literacy among young people.
Youth Challenges
South Sudan has a predominantly young population, but many young people face limited access to education, employment, skills training and opportunities to participate in political and economic decision-making.
Years of conflict, displacement and weak public institutions have deepened those challenges. Limited employment opportunities have left many young people dependent on informal work and, in some areas, vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups or involvement in communal violence.
The government has sought to address some of those challenges through its National Youth Development Policy, which aims to strengthen youth participation in governance and development and increase their representation in decision-making structures.
But the policy has yet to be fully operationalised, with implementation, financing and institutional mechanisms still needed to translate its provisions into practical opportunities for young people.
The gap between policy commitments and implementation remains a key challenge for youth advocates, particularly as South Sudan prepares for elections scheduled for December 2026.
The celebrations in Mundri East ended with renewed calls for young people to reject violence and work together to promote peace, unity and development in the county and across Western Equatoria State.
and then