By Alan Clement
Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil has linked rising youth gang activity in Juba to family breakdown, urging renewed Christian family values during Christmas celebrations at St. James Parish on Monday.
According to a statement from the governor’s office, he made the remarks while addressing hundreds of Christians gathered for the holiday service.
He highlighted the emergence of youth gangs locally referred to as “niggas” and “Torontos” in Juba as symptomatic of broader social breakdown, asserting that the individuals involved are, above all, sons and daughters from South Sudanese families.
The governor’s remarks reflect growing concern by government officials and civil society over youth criminality in the capital and beyond. “The greatest weapon we have against antisocial behaviour is a strong family anchored in Christian values,” Governor Adil said in a statement.
“Our children must be raised with moral and social values that respect life, community, and the dignity of others,” he continued.
His comments come amid intensifying national attention on gang-related violence and its implications for public safety and social cohesion.
In July of this year, South Sudanese security forces launched a sweeping crackdown in the capital following the gang rape of a 16‑year‑old girl in Shirikat, an incident that sparked outrage across the nation.
According to officials, over 600 suspected youth gang members were apprehended in coordinated operations across Juba neighbourhoods majorly in Gumbo/Shirikat,
The gangs, locally known as “niggas” and “Torontos,” have long been accused of terrorizing residents with violent crime.
At the time, Police spokesperson Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka said the deployment brought a dramatic decline in crime rates, noting that Juba remained calm during Independence Day celebrations.
Former Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, who chaired the Central Equatoria State Security Committee, described the arrests as a necessary step to restore public safety.
However, the crackdown drew criticism especially from Civil society groups which warned that mass arrests risked criminalizing youth broadly, while reports surfaced alleging that some detainees were transferred to Upper Nile State and conscripted into the army.
The July operation underscored both the severity of gang violence in Juba and the government’s reliance on heavy‑handed tactics to confront it raising questions about long‑term strategies to address unemployment, education gaps, and social breakdown that fuel gang recruitment.
The governor’s emphasis on family and moral guidance echoed similar concerns voiced by other civic leaders.
In January 2025, the Central Equatoria Women Union chairperson urged youths to disassociate from gangs, linking the trend to idleness, unemployment, and lack of opportunities, while pressing the government to develop programmes tailored to youth advancement and peace.
Although comprehensive official statistics remain limited, hospital data from earlier reports noted dozens of gang-related injuries during holiday periods in Juba, reinforcing the perception of a persistent problem affecting public safety.
At the Christmas service, Governor Adil also called for unity, love, and peace as South Sudan prepares to welcome the new year.
His message dovetailed with remarks by The Most Rev’d Dr. Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Metropolitan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Juba, who urged congregants to embrace love as a unifying force both within the church and across the nation.
“The significance of love in overcoming our differences cannot be overstated,” Archbishop Badi said adding, “It is God’s love, manifested in the birth of Jesus, which we celebrate at Christmas and it should guide our interactions with one another throughout the year.”
The Christmas celebration drew government officials from both national and state levels, members of parliament, church leaders, and members of the Christian community, marking a rare congregation that underscored collaboration between religious institutions and state authorities.
The gathering served as a platform to collectively advocate for social cohesion, freedom of worship, and peaceful coexistence in a nation still navigating post-conflict recovery.
Despite ongoing governmental efforts including law enforcement crackdowns in multiple states and calls for youth disengagement from criminal networks experts and community advocates continue to stress that addressing the root causes of gang involvement requires integrated social, economic, and moral strategies, not solely security-driven approaches.