South Sudan hosted a marathon Saturday in the capital, Juba, as part of the annual Nile Day celebrations aimed at promoting regional solidarity and peace.
The weeklong festivities, which began earlier this week, brought together athletes, youth, and government officials and are scheduled to conclude Sunday. This year marks the first time South Sudan has organized the nine-day celebration since joining the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), a regional bloc of 10 countries that share the Nile River.
NBI Executive Director Nestor Niyonzima said the marathon and the broader celebrations reflect the member states’ shared vision for peace, youth engagement, and sustainable river management.
“All 10 member states are represented here as one people, one vision, one river,” Niyonzima said. “The most important signal we are sending through this marathon is peace and solidarity.”
He encouraged young people to engage with the initiative and explore opportunities through its programs, emphasizing the benefits of regional cooperation.
The 10-kilometer marathon attracted participants from schools and athletic clubs across Juba. Among them was 21-year-old Steven, who typically competes in short-distance events but said he joined the long-distance race to support the message of unity.
“This marathon is not just about competition. It is to bring unity as South Sudanese and come together for peace,” Steven said. He also called for more support for female athletes, noting the low number of women participants.
Fourteen-year-old Margret Nyadet James, a student at Venice International Secondary School, also competed. Margret has previously placed in state-level competitions, including events in Jonglei State. She said the uphill sections of the course were particularly challenging.
“My plan is to represent the country and make it proud,” she said.
Her coach described her participation as a “big milestone” and encouraged broader engagement in sports among youth. He also emphasized the need for gender equality and stronger government support for athletics.
“Equality is very important. The number of female runners was very low. It requires collective responsibility and more government effort in nurturing and supporting the girl child through education,” he said.
He further urged the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to prioritize capacity building for coaches. “If quality coaches are deployed in schools and training programs are strengthened, learners will acquire skills early. The government must invest in capacity building for coaches,” he said.