Youth representatives from Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes State met the Government of Lakes State on Monday morning to protest against a youth conference scheduled for November 24 in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
They argued that the organizers of the Aweil Conference did not follow procedures, adding that the overall goal and objectives of the conference are not clear.
Warrap Youth Union’s Information Secretary Acuil Acuil told Good News Radio after the meeting that youth associations from the three states will boycott the conference.
Manyiel Dut Kok, who chairs Lakes State Youths Union, appealed to the governments of the four states of Greater Bahr el Ghazal to work with the organized youth groups.
He asked the government to be aware of youth groups that may be operating with resources from unknown sources.
Youth Minister Mariik Nanga Mariik, who received the delegation at the Governor’s Office, challenged the youth to come up with innovative projects on peace building to end conflict and insecurity in the region.
He said the concerns of the youth representatives about the Aweil Conference were reasonable and promised to communicate their grievances to the State Governor who was in a forum in Juba.
The meeting at the Governor’s Office was attended by nine youth representatives from Lakes, Warrap and Western Bahr el Ghazal States.