In a significant boost to the South Sudan’s Federal Democratic Party (FDP) which is led by Higher Education Minister Gabriel Changson Chang, 100 new members joined the party on Thursday.
The newly inducted members, enthusiastic young men and women who hail from various regions across South Sudan, said they are eager to contribute to the party’s mission.
During a welcoming ceremony held in Juba on Tuesday, Peter Urayo Madut, the leader of the newcomers, expressed the growing interest in the FDP and its vision for a brighter future in South Sudan.
“I would like to tell the chairperson that many people are so interested in this party because a brighter future for all is for us as the youth of South Sudan, it is not for somebody.” He said. “We have also come to work hand in hand with the leaders of the party to make sure that we expand the party to make sure it reaches all the states.” Urayo added: “With the commitment that we have come with, we will move the party forward.”
For his part, Gabriel Changson Chang, the FDP chairman, warmly welcomed the new members.
“We are very happy to receive you today. The information I got is that you were supposed to be 101 here today, and maybe about 30 or 40 are here,” he said. “That is a great number and we welcome you all heartily and we will work as a team.”
Changson reaffirmed the FDP’s dedication to the full implementation of the 2018 peace deal and urged the new members to uphold democratic principles within the party. He encouraged them to actively participate in shaping the country’s future by contributing ideas.
“If you have ideas on how to move this country forward, you bring your ideas to the various secretaries of the party so that when we go for constitutional review, our leaders can go and present them at the National Constitution Conference,” Changson urged.
He also disclosed that the FDP has surpassed the 500-member threshold required from each state and administrative area to register as a political party under the Political Parties Act of 2023.