Ten states youths’ representatives on Tuesday presented a position paper to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD’s mediators demanding for independent representation in the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Equatoria Students’ Union in Uganda representative Bush Buse Ako in Juba called on IGAD and the international community to quickly resolve the ongoing conflict because young people are victims of the crisis, Bakhita Radio reported.
He urged the mediators to include youths to the peace talks because the youths currently in Addis Ababa do not represent the interest of citizens and that government and position leaders are not working for peace.
People with Disabilities’ representative James Ochan said if IGAD mediators accepted youths’ representative in the talks it means every member of the society is equally represented.
He said the position paper called for quick peace process and that if the two conflicting parties failed to reach an agreement, youths would demand their fellow young people to withdraw from supporting the warring parties in front lines.
The youth groups urged IGAD mediators to ensure that the young people participate fully in the peace talks.