By Lodu William Odiya
Youth are advised to embrace individual roles and responsibilities in building a more peaceful, prosperous future for all South Sudanese.
Spokesperson of South Sudan National Elections Commission (NEC), George Lemi Yata sounded the advice, recently, while lecturing 400 university students.
“Any citizen of sound mind, who is 18 and above, has the right to register and vote in this country’s elections,” Yata said.
The lecture held at the University of Juba, attracted students from four Universities in the capital city, Juba. Representatives of Starford International University, Upper Nile University, Catholic University, and the University of Juba students attended the Hall lecture.
Yata stressed that some seventy percent of South Sudan’s population is under the age of thirty, emphasizing that the country relies on them to provide energy and dynamism as it prepares for polls.
“There are opportunities available for each of you to be actively involved: You can join political parties, support campaigns, help enhance civic and voter education, as well as act as electoral observers during polling, ballot counting and tallying of votes,” Yata said.
However, Ccommunications advisor for Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Guy Gabriel called for rekindling of peace process. He highlighted that stable peace and security situation remains essential for elections.
“There is urgent need to rekindle South Sudan Peace Process. It’s also vital that all political detainees are released, reunification of forces is prioritized and parties to the Revitalized Agreement desist from unilateral actions.” Guy said.
Meanwhile, Grace Maina, a political Affairs Officer working with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan said that real time political challenges are made even more cogent with ongoing regional insecurity, an economic crisis and climate shocks, such as floods.
“The reason we are bringing you, as young people, together to speak about these issues is because this is your country and your voices matter,” Maina emphasized.
He noted that the more well-informed the youth are about current affairs, the more they can influence public opinion at families, neighbourhoods and communities.
“For us, as UNMISS, we stand with this country and its people in their quest for a better, more democratic future.” Maina stressed.
Chairperson of the Union of Journalists in South Sudan (UJOSS), Patrick Oyet, who is also member of the National Constitutional Review Commission, emphasized the importance of constitution-making process.
“It’s important to have a constitution because it provides the framework for power structures, guarantees human rights for everyone and sets up laws for the country,” Oyet said, stressing the need for progress in this regard.