TORIT – Youth leaders in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State have linked high crimes rates to the high unemployment levels among the youth population.
The Secretary General of the state youth union, Samson Lokiru said youth unemployment has led to armed robberies and cattle raiding in many counties.
He was speaking during the opening of two multi-purpose centers constructed by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Torit and Magwi counties.
“Minority are not employed and they are just loitering around within the state. Sometimes, they end up doing wrong things like highway robberies. We also have high rate of cattle raids in other counties,” said Lokiru.
The youth leader said peace partners were requested to establish a mult-purpose youth center that allow the youth to freely interact among themselves.
“It will bring young people together and we have various programs,” he said.
Remzi Monday Lowi, a 25-year old youth from Kapoeta South county said the multi-purpose centers will enable youth from diverse backgrounds to interact.
“The youth are redundant and these new youth centers will be for social interactions. This center will bring together youth to promote peace,” he said.
The state minister for Youth and Culture, Marget Idwa Okuye, thanked UNHCR and the European Union (EU) for building the two youth centers in the state.
“We appreciate efforts exerted by UNHCR, having known the purpose of the youth centers built to empower returnees and engage them in various activities that can be a turning point in their lives,” she stressed.
Bosco Ongee, a youth leader from Magwi county said the center will unite youth.