The South Sudan National Youth Union (SSNYU) on Monday called off its third convention scheduled for December due to what its leader referred to as interference from the minister of youth and sports.
The third convention, initially scheduled to run from 10 to 17 December 2023, was also meant to elect new leadership for the body.
Addressing a press conference held in Juba on Monday, Gola Boyoi Gola, the chairman of the National Youth Union, said the convention will not take place as planned due to interference by, Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu, the Minister of Youth and Sports.
“We are here to inform the public and people of South Sudan, especially the youth, that the third National Youth Convention that was scheduled to take place in December will not take place as scheduled because of some challenges we are facing as a union,” he said.
According to the youth leader, a press conference will be held on 11 December 2023 to announce the end of his term and hand over the office to the Ministry of Youth and Sports which will form a preparatory committee to conduct the third national convention within three months.
For his part, Majok Anyakdit, the deputy chairperson of SSNYU, alleged that Minister Dr. Bol has been fomenting confusion and dividing the youth by forming a parallel body to handle elections.
“I just want to inform the public and the youth that we are facing a serious challenge and interference by the minister who is dividing the youth by using the council to create a parallel youth body to call for the convention,” he said. “Yet there is already a convention which has been announced in the roadmap.”
Efforts to reach the Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu were unsuccessful.
In December 2019, the second national convention elected the incumbent president, Gola Boyoi Gola, after the tenure of Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu elapsed.
In what amounts to apparent bad blood between the minister and the leadership of the youth body coming to a head, an invitation to the media house for Monday’s press conference on Sunday said they would explain the minister’s plans frustrate the convention.
“Among other issues, the Union will brief and explain to the youth fraternity the efforts being egocentrically exerted by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Albino Bol, in an attempt to divide the Union and completely frustrate and paralyze the process of the Third National Youth Convention,” the invitation read in part.
Dr. Bol suspended Gola from office in May 2022 for overreaching his powers and only reinstated him in December 2022 after the SSNYU chairman issued a public apology to the youth minister.