Emerging Voices at Juba Youth Forum
Over two days in Juba, more than fifty young delegates from four South Sudanese states convened to chart a collective vision for peace, inclusion, and opportunity at the Inclusive Youth Forum hosted by SIHA Network and supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
Participants urged state institutions and partners to accelerate youth representation in decision-making, pass stalled social bills, and invest in skills programmes, arguing that meaningful inclusion can de-escalate insecurity and displacement.
Spotlight on Inclusive Governance
Youth delegates highlighted the Youth and Sports Bill, Student Welfare Fund, Family Law Bill, and Anti-GBV Bill as legislative priorities, noting that fast-tracking them would formalise avenues for participation and protection.
Speakers asked ministries to appoint more young professionals, including persons with disabilities, to local and national offices, arguing that visible leadership can inspire peers and strengthen institutional trust.
Economic Hurdles and Resilience
Unemployment emerged as a dominant worry, with delegates pointing to reliance on small retail, boda boda transport, and seasonal farming to survive amid limited credit and training opportunities.
“These ventures prove our resilience,” said participant Mwirga Chedo. “But scalable support could convert survival tactics into engines of local growth.”
Gender and Disability Perspectives
Thirty-five of the fifty-five participants were young women, an intentional balance praised by SIHA Regional Coordinator Jackie Bage, who argued that empowering girls accelerates community transformation.
Mary Ladule warned that young people with disabilities still face entrenched discrimination and poor access to health, education, and mobility aids, urging authorities to integrate universal design into public services.
Government Reception and Next Steps
Ministry of Peacebuilding official Jennifer Bangben applauded the forum’s inclusive format and pledged to relay recommendations to the inter-ministerial committee on youth affairs.
Observers noted that the forum coincided with continuing preparations for South Sudan’s anticipated elections, making the youth agenda particularly timely for policymakers and partners.
Path Forward for South Sudanese Youth
Delegates signed a joint communiqué committing to promote peace, unity, and social cohesion within their communities while monitoring government progress on the outlined demands.
Sustainable change, they argued, rests on political will and sustained investment rather than short-term projects, a stance likely to shape future dialogues between youth, authorities, and development partners.