In August 2015, South Sudan’s warring parties signed a peace agreement to end the conflict. Implementation of the political settlement is challenging, with the formation of a transitional government of national unity the first of many hurdles towards achieving lasting peace.
Reconciliation at national and local levels is required to heal the social and ethnic fractures that have been caused by conflict among, and between, communities. This will require broad-based participation, and in particular that of South Sudan’s youth, as two-thirds of the country’s population is under the age of thirty.
Speakers discussed the role of youth in South Sudan and possibilities for an inclusive approach that engages young people in peace-building, reconciliation and community cohesion.
The event was co-organized with the British Council’s Horn of Africa Leadership and Learning for Action (HOLLA) project.
Participants
Hon. John Gai, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Government of South Sudan
Agum Rin Mabeny, Undersecretary, Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports, Government of South Sudan
Ahmed Soliman, Research Associate, Africa Programme, Chatham House
Dr Alfred Lokuji, Associate Professor of Development Studies, University of Juba
Casie Copeland, Senior Analyst South Sudan, International Crisis Group
Chuol Dow, Youth Leader, HOLLA South Sudan
Edmund Yakani Berizilious, Executive Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO)
Ferdinand von Hapsburg-Lotheringen, Representative, South Sudan Council of Churches
Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, Chairman, Democratic Change Party
Maal Maker Thiong, Directorate of Communications and PR, Office of the President
Manasseh Zindo, Chairperson of the National Committee for Culture, Youth and Sports, SPLM-IO
Nicholas Aru, Co-Founder, South Sudan Youth for Peace and Development; South Sudan Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation
Paleki Matthew Obur, Executive Director, South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network (SSWEN)
Peter Biar Ajak, Director, Center for Strategic Analyses and Research
Rosalind Marsden, Associate Fellow, Africa Programme, Chatham House