The European Union (EU) has urged the empowerment of young people as catalysts for positive change.
Lothar Jaschke, the EU Deputy Head of Delegation in South Sudan, said young people play an active role in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding.
He spoke on Thursday at a National Youth Union consultative meeting on developing South Sudan’s National Action Plan for Youth, Peace, and Security.
“The voices of young people are loud and strong—they cannot be ignored,” Jaschke said.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, the youth population (aged 15-35) is projected to account for 42% of the total by 2030. This presents a tremendous opportunity for growth, prosperity, modernization, and autonomy,” he added.
Jaschke noted that the EU and the African Union (AU) welcome the role of youth and civil society in promoting the rule of law, democracy, human rights, stability, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also reaffirmed the importance of protecting and enabling civic space.
The EU envoy expressed concern that many African youths face violence and conflict.
“Young people in low-income countries are especially vulnerable to conflicts, which have long-term effects on their education and employment, exposing them to forced displacement, sexual violence, and death,” he said.
With an estimated 70% of South Sudan’s population under 30, Jaschke said young people could drive transformative change toward a more peaceful, stable, prosperous, and connected future. However, he stressed the need for improved access to quality education, employment opportunities, and essential services.
“For South Sudan, this means a renewed focus on implementing the peace agreement—which I call a declaration of hope—alongside elections, constitutional processes, and a shared vision for the future, rather than violations of the agreement and ongoing violence,” he said.
In 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2250, recognizing youth’s positive role in peace and security and launching the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda. The resolution emphasizes young people’s contributions to conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding.
The EU and its member states lead efforts to implement this agenda, adopting action plans in line with UNSCR 2250. In 2022, the EU approved the Youth Action Plan (YAP) in EU External Action, promoting meaningful youth participation and empowerment in sustainable development, equality, and peace.
The YAP highlights Youth, Peace, and Security as a key priority, underscoring young people’s role in fostering lasting peace, advancing justice and reconciliation, and countering violent extremism.
Jaschke commended the Initiative for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCA), South Sudan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Peacebuilding for organizing the consultative meeting and launching a Youth, Peace, and Security Strategy two months ago.
Addressing South Sudan’s youth, he concluded: “May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift, may you stand firm when winds of change shift, may your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung—and may you stay forever young.”