The African Union Commission through the AGA-APSA Secretariat, launched a National of Trainers’ programme on youth participation in political and electoral processes in Juba, Republic of South Sudan from 29 to 31 May 2023.

The Republic of South Sudan is scheduled to have its nationwide elections in 2024, the first after the peace agreement was signed. Recognizing the role of youth in the electoral cycle, the Republic of South Sudan made an official request to the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (PAPS) of the African Union Commission (AUC) to provide a capacity building training for its youth.

In response to this request, a three-day training was organized to empower youth and encourage them to engage meaningfully in the electoral cycle of South Sudan. The training is to help the youth of South Sudan to leave a positive mark while shaping the growing democracy and governance space in the country.

This training is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) of the Republic of South Sudan, as well as the National Elections Commission (NEC). The training is championed by H.E. Dr. James Pitia Morgan, Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA in his capacity as the Chairperson of the PRC Sub-Committee on Human Rights Democracy and Governance.

The training is based on a comprehensive Training of Trainers’ Manual, developed under the auspices of the AGA-APSA Youth Engagement Strategy, to support the creation of national, regional and continental training programmes that focus on enhancing meaningful youth engagement in the electoral processes. Similar trainings have been offered to the youth in the Republic of The Gambia in August 2021, and in the Republic of Zimbabwe in June 2022 to support African Union Member States ahead of the national elections. The trained youth in The Gambia and in Zimbabwe have successfully participated in their national electoral process as voter education personnel, observers, poling agents among other areas.

This program is key in defining an inclusive and credible electoral process and leveraging youth participation as guided by the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance (ACDEG), which obliges State Parties to ensure the effective participation of citizens in the democratic and development processes for a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa.

Building youth capacity requires ample resources to enable the youth to have an understanding of their countries’ electoral cycle, mapping barriers and creating innovative ways to participate in the electoral and political processes. The trainees are expected to train other young people with the support of the MOYS and the NEC of the Republic of South Sudan.

For further information, please contact:

Doreen Apollos | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: ApollosD@africa-union.org l | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ms. Makda Mikre Tessema, Senior Democracy and Governance Expert, AGA – APSA Secretariat Makdam@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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