Youth and women in South Sudan have been encouraged to actively position themselves for greater political participation as the country prepares for anticipated national elections.
The call was made during the Political Minds training program held at the University of Juba, organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) under its Raising Civil Voices initiative, with support from the European Union (EU).
Speaking at the event, FES Country Director Uli Thum emphasized that meaningful political inclusion requires a clear understanding of how power operates.
“We need to understand political power what it is, where it lies, who holds it, and how to deal with it,” Thum said, urging participants to identify barriers to participation and develop strategies to overcome them.
He encouraged young leaders to build alliances across political parties, avoid tokenistic representation, and make strategic use of digital platforms where youth have a comparative advantage.
Thum also stressed the importance of research and data in strengthening political engagement and advocacy.
“Representation must translate into real participation in decision-making,” he added.
Deputy EU Ambassador to South Sudan, Lothar Jaschke, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting youth and women as key drivers of peace, democratic governance, and development.
“The political space is where we can influence change and make the world a better place,” Jaschke said, urging participants to be bold, claim their rights, and use available tools to shape inclusive political processes.
He noted that the EU’s long-standing engagement in South Sudan aims to support a peaceful and democratic transition grounded in a strong social contract between leaders and citizens, adding that empowered youth and women are essential to breaking cycles of violence.
Stella Kitale, a representative of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), urged young women to join political parties and prepare to contest in elections rather than remain voters only.
“We need to position ourselves so that our names appear on the ballot papers,” Kitale said, arguing that affirmative action measures, including the 35 percent quota for women, are more effectively advanced from within party structures.
She encouraged students to use university platforms to develop leadership skills and political networks.
“This country belongs to us,” she said. “The future is determined by the effort we make today.”
