By Baraka John
On a warm Wednesday in Yambio, voices that are often left out of political conversations filled the room. Young women, traditional leaders, youth representatives, and community elders gathered not just to listen, but to speak openly about leadership, power, and peace.
The one-day youth and community dialogue, organized by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, aimed to strengthen young women’s political participation, recognizing it as a critical pathway toward sustainable peace in South Sudan.
Fifty participants from across Yambio, including chiefs, headmen and head women, community-based women leaders, and residents, sat side by side. For many, it was a rare opportunity to openly question long-held norms and reflect on why women, especially young women, remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces.
“This dialogue is about commitment,” said Ms. Jackie Bage, Country Coordinator for SIHA Network in South Sudan. “Commitment from leaders, institutions, and communities to support young women to lead at all levels.”
Bage emphasized the importance of implementing the 35 percent affirmative action for women outlined in the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. More than a policy target, she said, it is a promise that remains unfulfilled.
“When women are excluded from leadership and decision-making, stability is weakened,” she told participants. “Spaces that exclude women cannot last. Inclusion strengthens sustainability.”
Her message resonated strongly in Western Equatoria State, where communities particularly in and around Yambio continue to grapple with inter-communal and tribal violence. Bage noted that empowering young women to participate in political and peace processes can help rebuild trust, promote coexistence, and improve how communities make decisions during times of crisis.
As discussions unfolded, participants openly acknowledged the barriers that continue to hold women back. Restrictive cultural norms, limited access to information, and exclusion from public spaces were repeatedly cited as obstacles to women’s political participation.
For Mr. Mamu John Joseph Badari, one of the participants, the cost of marginalizing women is already evident.
“In our context, women have been left behind, and things are not working,” he said. “We must implement the 35 percent affirmative action. Women need empowerment and mentorship. And as men, especially as husbands, we must support our wives to take up leadership.”
Ms. Roda Alex, the Chairlady of Naduru Area in Yambio, shared a similar conviction. Drawing from her own leadership experience, she stressed that women’s participation is not optional; it is essential.
“Women’s participation in political positions is key to the growth of South Sudan,” she said. “Women must be given opportunities in every sector to claim the 35 percent affirmative action guaranteed in the peace agreement.”
The dialogue was held under the Inclusive Governance for Peace Project, supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. The initiative seeks to empower young women to actively engage in political leadership and peacebuilding processes during and after conflict.
SIHA Network, a leading regional feminist organization operating across the Horn of Africa, continues to work with communities in South Sudan to challenge harmful social norms, promote gender equality, and amplify women’s voices. Through advocacy and grassroots engagement, the organization aims to ensure that women and girls are not just beneficiaries of peace but leaders shaping it.