Youth Day call in Juba
A festive International Youth Day in Juba turned reflective when Youth and Sports Minister Joseph Geng Akech challenged South Sudanese youth to shape the nation’s image and their own futures.
Positive social media for national branding
Akech urged influencers to spotlight folklore dances, tech hacks and local startups instead of viral feuds, arguing that each responsible post strengthens South Sudan’s cultural diplomacy.
Drug abuse threat to demographic dividend
The minister painted a stark picture of narcotics eroding productivity, lamenting that illicit pills and cannabis ‘steal classrooms, job sites and talent’, and pledging tighter market surveillance alongside awareness drives.
UN backs youth-led peace vision
UN Deputy Special Representative Anita Kiki Gbeho applauded the forthcoming Youth, Peace and Security Strategy, saying young citizens must sit at negotiation tables ‘not as observers but architects of stability’.
Legislative momentum and regional lessons
Draft laws on gender equity, agribusiness and health, now before parliament, are expected to embed youth priorities; analysts note that Congo-Brazzaville’s own digital literacy programs could offer templates for swift rollout.