Exclusive Interview: Award-winning activist calls on youth to stand up for their rights
Malual Bol Kiir, award-winning youth activist and founder of African Youth Action Network (Photo: Malual Bol)
January 13th, 2020 (SSNN)—South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, ending one of Africa’s longest civil wars.
During the country’s liberation struggle, the youth were on the front line defending and sacrificing their blood, sweat and tears in the hope of a better future, however, barely two years after the nation gained independence, another bloody conflict erupted in 2013, killing hundreds of thousands and forcing millions from their homes.
According to the national census conducted in 2008, the landlocked country is inhabited by over thirteen million people; of whom 72% of them are young people.
Speaking to our editorial team on Friday, Malual Bol Kiir, an award-winning youth activist and founder of African Youth Action Network (AYAN) explains some of the complex challenges facing young people in the country.
SSNN: Malual, thank you very much for your time and welcome to SSNN. A few weeks ago, following the recent election of the President of the South Sudan National Youth Union, Gola Boya Gola, you strongly criticized and questioned the transparency of the electoral process.
Why do you think that the electoral process was marred by irregularities and interference from the government?
Malual: I strongly believe that the authorities interfered in the electoral process so that they influence and control the incoming youth leadership such that they speak for them not for the youth actually, in fact it’s a blemish move that will continue to tarnish the credibility of SSNYU as it has been since the 1st convention.
SSNN: Well, on the same day after criticizing the electoral process, another critic expressed his disappointment at the leadership of the newly elected president, and said: “The South Sudan National Youth Union has already started showing us the type of leadership we are going to have after our old men are off office… disappointing.”
Question: It seems the two of you share very similar views and positions on this issue, don’t you?
Malual: Yes, because the leadership of the youth doesn’t represent the youth in the first place, the president was handpicked by the government and he appointed his executive which I believe shall be more loyal to the government than the youth which they pretend to represent.
Many South Sudanese youth don’t recognize the leadership of the SSNYU as most believe it doesn’t represent their voices. I can recall the previous youth engagements prior and throughout the HLRF process where the youth kept calling for dissolution and reconstitution of the union, the hope has been placed in the recently concluded 2nd convention though it didn’t go as expected but I still believe that, the youth will eventually claim their rightful platform.
SSNN: In every country, young people are always considered as the backbone of the nation, and that they are always expected to play an important role in promoting peace, unity and reconciliation.
In the context of South Sudan, do you think that South Sudan’s youth are on the right track, are they doing what is expected of them?
Malual: Well, the youth are trying their best as much as they could just like most of the youth in Africa and around the world but they are not on the right track owing to the fact that they are being used by greedy politicians as a means to achieve their own political interests. The youth also allowed themselves to be polarized by the self-aggrandized politicians based on ethnicity.
SSNN: What should they do or what do you think they need to improve on?
Malual: I think South Sudan’s youth should try as much as they could to be independent minded and never be succumb to what politicians believe or ask them to do, they should fight for their national identity and patriotism.
Gender Equality
SSNN: In recent years, world leaders have agreed on a Framework Agreement, pledging to end all forms of violence that continue to pose threats to women’s rights in the public and private sectors by 2030.
As an activist, how do you now view Gender Equality in South Sudan, do women deserve to enjoy the same rights as men?
Malual: Gender equality is vital because all human beings are born equal and deserve to be treated the same, nobody should be left behind on the basis on of their gender.
Women in South Sudan for example are the marginalized of the marginalized as stressed by the late Dr. John Garang, We should live in South Sudan where everyone is endowed with dignified life and fulfillment and all must be included in the decision making processes.
Media Freedom in South Sudan
In recent weeks, we had an interview with a senior government official on the same social media platform and we would like to ask the same question.
Why is freedom of the press important in South Sudan?
Malual: Freedom of press is so significant because every citizen has right of access to information, press freedom is so important that it connects the entire population. The censorship which often happens are detrimental, the press deserves free space to operate, reaching out to the whole population as well as bringing out opinions of the grassroot populations.
Thank you!
Malual Bol Kiir, an award-winning youth activist and founder of African Youth Action Network (AYAN) speaking to Buay Kapduel, Editor-in-Chief of South Sudan News Now.
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