By Chol D. Johnson
Young women leaders backed by the Strategic Initiatives Horns in Africa (SIHA) Network and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) have renewed calls for inclusive governance, warning they will intensify advocacy if authorities fail to address what they describe as systematic exclusion of women especially young women from political leadership in South Sudan.
The warning was issued during a press engagement under the Inclusive Governance for Peace Project, following recent appointments in Central Equatoria State where only one woman was named among 19 key leadership positions, with no young woman represented.
Strategic Initiative Horn in Africa (SIHA) Country Coordinator Jackie Bage said the concerns raised are evidence-based and rooted in lived experiences rather than political ambition. She noted that SIHA a feminist organization, conducted a study across Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal to assess women’s participation in leadership.
“The findings show that cultural norms continue to undermine women’s leadership,” Bage said.
“Young women also face unsafe environments marked by sexual harassment, violence, and intimidation, alongside limited mentorship and empowerment opportunities.”
To address these challenges, she explained, SIHA designed the Inclusive Governance for Peace Project, which currently supports 35 young women leaders through mentorship in leadership, advocacy, and civic engagement.
Speaking on behalf of participants, Adore Kuyo, a young woman leader from Juba, emphasized that young women bring fresh ideas, energy, and innovative solutions that remain largely untapped.
She added that young women understand their own challenges and can advocate effectively using diverse platforms, including social media.
Participants stressed that the absence of young women in leadership leaves their specific needs unaddressed. They also raised concerns over legal and structural barriers, particularly provisions in the Political Parties Act that they say contradict constitutional guarantees of equal participation in public life.
Others highlighted the problem of tokenism, noting that women are often present in meetings but excluded from real decision-making.
Participants also emphasized the importance of peer representation, saying young women feel safer discussing sensitive issues with leaders who share similar experiences.
Responding to questions about next steps, Bage said advocacy would continue if demands are ignored.
“Inclusion is not optional it is constitutional,” she said, adding that excluding women undermines sustainable peace.
The young women reiterated their demands, including full implementation of the 35 percent affirmative action quota, review of recent appointments, transparent future selections, and the creation of safe spaces for meaningful participation.
They concluded with a clear message: silence is no longer an option, and advocacy for inclusive leadership will continue until commitments are realized in practice.