IGAD and Partners Successfully Conclude South Sudan National Youth Leadership, Peace, and Security Forum.
July 21, 2026 (Juba, South Sudan): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through the Office of the IGAD Youth Special Envoy and the IGAD Head of Mission to South Sudan, in partnership with the South Sudan National Youth Union (SSNYU), the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), and the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), successfully concluded the South Sudan National Youth Leadership, Peace and Security Forum in Juba, South Sudan.
Held under the theme, “Youth Voices for Peace: Shaping South Sudan’s Democratic Transition, Social Cohesion and Economic Future,” the two-day Forum brought together youth leaders from across South Sudan alongside representatives of government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, faith leaders and regional stakeholders to strengthen youth leadership and participation in peacebuilding, democratic governance and national development.
Convened at a pivotal moment as South Sudan advances the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and prepares for its democratic transition, the Forum reaffirmed that meaningful youth participation is essential to building lasting peace, strengthening democratic governance and fostering inclusive socio-economic development.
Officially launching the Forum, H.E. Prof. Dr. Gen. James Wani Igga, Vice President and Chairperson of the Economic Cluster of the Republic of South Sudan, underscored the central role of young people in shaping the country’s future.
“Young people are not just beneficiaries of peace. They are its negotiators, its guardians, and its loudest champions.”
Throughout the two-day Forum, participants deliberated on strategic issues shaping South Sudan’s future, including youth participation in the peace process and democratic transition, digital peace, countering hate speech and misinformation, national cohesion and reconciliation, as well as climate change, resource-based conflicts and youth resilience.
Delivering remarks on behalf of H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Victoria Anib, IGAD Head of Mission to South Sudan, reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to supporting youth-led peacebuilding and inclusive dialogue across the region.
“Through this Forum, IGAD reaffirms its commitment to amplifying youth voices, strengthening inclusive dialogue, and supporting South Sudan’s journey towards lasting peace. Young people are essential partners in shaping that future.”
The Forum concluded with the validation of the South Sudan Youth Position Paper and the adoption of the Forum Communiqué, setting out practical recommendations to strengthen youth leadership, peacebuilding and democratic participation in South Sudan.
Speaking on behalf of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), Rev. Dr. Justin Badi Arama called for unity and reconciliation, while reaffirming the commitment of the faith-based partners to strengthen their partnership with IGAD in supporting peacebuilding efforts and promoting meaningful youth participation in democratic governance in South Sudan and across the region.
Reflecting on the significance of the Forum, Sam Ogwal, IGAD Youth Special Envoy, emphasised that empowering young people remains central to building lasting peace and inclusive governance.
“This Forum demonstrates that young people are not waiting to inherit peace—they are actively shaping it. By creating space for dialogue, innovation and partnership, we are strengthening youth leadership as a driving force for South Sudan’s democratic transition and sustainable peace.”
Following the Forum, IGAD and its partners will undertake a series of high-level engagements with the Minister for Youth, the Minister for Peace, and the Vice President for the Gender and Youth Cluster to present the Youth Position Paper and advocate for greater youth participation in South Sudan’s peacebuilding, democratic transition and national development processes.
As part of IGAD’s continued commitment to advancing the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda, the Forum reinforced the organisation’s efforts to empower young people as agents of peace, dialogue and sustainable development. By bringing together government institutions, youth leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society and development partners, the Forum reaffirmed a shared commitment to ensuring that the voices, aspirations and leadership of young people remain central to South Sudan’s journey towards sustainable peace, democratic governance and a prosperous future.
