South Sudanese youth should be empowered to the revitalized peace agreement, a youth leader said on Wednesday.
Omot Obang Okony, head of the Anyuak youth association in Juba, said inadequate representation of youth in the government of greater Jonglei region may derail the peace deal implementation.
He said youth in the region should be fully represented and provided with vocational training skills to help keep them engaged.
“As Anyuak community, we were invited to attend peace celebrations in Bor. The celebrations were good. Our problems as youth in greater Jonglei especially Akobo and Boma states is that we lack ownership of the peace deal because we are not considered,” said Obang.
‘In our areas, there are no schools, health care centers and work opportunities that may keep youth engaged. This causes displacement and fighting in the region. So this peace must be implemented,” he added.
According the youth leader, the country’s political leaders should implement the peace deal, adding it will help end cattle raids and child abduction since locals will be engaged in economic activities.
He also appealed to fighting armed groups to join the peace deal.
South Sudan’s warring factions signed a revitalized peace agreement to end the country’s civil war in September last year. The revitalized peace accord stipulates that there shall be a transitional government formed after eight months of the pre-transitional period.