Government did well to quell riots but more needs to be done

The January 16, riots that erupted after graphic videos depicting Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers executing South Sudanese in Wad Medani, Al Gezira State of Sudan have exposed deeply -seated grievances among South Sudanese.

The January 16, riots that erupted after graphic videos depicting Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers executing South Sudanese in Wad Medani, Al Gezira State of Sudan have exposed deeply -seated grievances among South Sudanese.

These grievances manifested themselves in the form of vandals, looting shops and properties of Sudanese nationals.

We can argue correctly, that the brutal killings of civilians by the Sudan army soldiers and allied forces sparked these violent riots, but also we should not hide our heads in the sand about the high unemployment rate in South Sudan.

The South Sudan Poverty and Equity Assessment report, released in December last year, highlighted that 76 percent of the estimated 12.4 million South Sudan population lives below the national poverty line of 358,724 South Sudan pounds  per person per year.

One can imagine the level of extreme poverty in this country amid endless climatic induced crises, and communal conflicts. This situation has caused anger and desperation among the restless youth, who cannot find lucrative jobs, despite having earned a degree at the various universities in the country.

The government needs to invest it’s resources in skilling young South Sudanese. For example, this could be done by investing in Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET).

This critical area will help integrate South Sudanese into the economy, where they remain passive participants. The government could think of starting up micro-finance institutions or establish government -owned banks to provide start-up capital to South Sudanese wishing to start business.

The future looks desperate and bleak for many young South Sudanese, and who knows next time they may target all foreign nationals working and living here.

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