Majok Atem Deng was elected chairperson of the Aweil South County Youth Association in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State after winning 46 of the 64 votes cast in an election held last week, defeating rival Martin Kuel Kuel, county officials said on Wednesday.
County Commissioner Luka Thel Thel told Radio Tamazuj that Majok secured 46 votes while Kuel received 18 in what he described as a peaceful and democratic election.
“The elections for the Aweil South County Youth Association were successfully concluded in a democratic manner,” Thel said. “We appreciate the youth for conducting the process peacefully and responsibly.”
The commissioner said the election was attended by the chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union, lawyer Akot Deng Akot, members of parliament, county officials and other community leaders.
He urged young people to take an active role in agriculture to help tackle food insecurity and improve livelihoods in the county.
“The youth must work for the development of Aweil South County and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State,” Thel said. “We want productive young people who can produce food for themselves.”
Majok said he sought the leadership position to promote unity, peace and development among young people in the county.
“I contested for this position because there is a lot of work to do, and our first priority is unity,” he said. “Without working together, we cannot achieve meaningful progress.”
He said young people should unite around shared goals and contribute ideas that would help advance development in Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and South Sudan as a whole.
Young people make up more than 70% of South Sudan’s population, according to the United Nations. Many face high unemployment, limited access to education and skills training, and the effects of years of conflict, making youth engagement and job creation key challenges for the government and its development partners.
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