South Sudanese youth going to participate in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal have pledged to promote nonviolent conflict resolution, saying violence should not define the country’s future.
The Dakar 2026 Olympic Games are expected to kick off from 31 October to 13 November, marking the first time in history that an Olympic event will be held on the African continent.
The six-member delegation, drawn mainly from the Upper Nile region, is expected to travel to Senegal next Monday for a 10-day visit facilitated by the Nonviolent Peace Force, with financial support from the French Embassy in Juba.
Philippe Michel-Kleisbauer, French Ambassador to South Sudan, addressing the delegation at the European Union Compound in Juba ahead of their departure, urged the young people to use the international platform to promote peace and demonstrate their commitment to the country’s development.
“You will soon have the opportunity to bring your voice beyond borders in front of international media and young people from all around the world to pledge your commitment to peace in South Sudan and to explain the effort you will make to contribute to the development of your country,” he said. “This is an exceptional opportunity, but it is also a great responsibility. France has chosen to believe in your potential, your determination, and your ability to become an agent of change in South Sudan.”
“I’m convinced that you will have all the required qualities to become an outstanding ambassador for peace,” Amb. Michel-Kleisbauer added.
He said the support provided by France was intended to contribute to sustainable development and improve the lives of local communities.
He highlighted a cooperative development project along the White Nile, which he said would receive support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), working with local non-governmental organizations.
According to the ambassador, the youths are expected to help facilitate the implementation of the project among local communities and authorities to ensure that the support produces tangible results.
“Your mission is to ensure that this support will lead to tangible achievements, will be useful to your communities, and will be hope for your future generation,” he said. “Therefore, your trip to Senegal should not be a simple step, but the starting point of a reinforced commitment until the completion of the project on the White Nile.”
“Because peace is not just proclaimed, it is built day by day for dialogue, solidarity, mutual respect, and concrete actions in the service of all,” Amb. Michel-Kleisbauer added.
For her part, Nyanuer Wiyual Manytap, a youth protection team member from the Upper Nile region and member of the team, said they are excited about the opportunity to participate in the programme and promote peace through sports and development.
“As athletes, we believe that we can make changes through sports. We thank the French Embassy for trusting us with the young people of South Sudan that we can be change makers,” she said. “We, the youth of South Sudan, refuse to believe that conflict or violence is our destiny.”
“We can solve conflict in non-violent ways; conflict can be solved politely, and that is how peace will come. Conflict is not a resolution; it only leads to loss of lives and hate,” Wiyual added.
She also highlighted the economic potential of the Nile River, saying it could support irrigation, fishing, tourism and transportation, helping South Sudan move towards greater self-reliance.
Meanwhile, Deng Wiyual Nyang, another youth protection team member, said he was looking forward to representing young people from South Sudan and communicating their aspirations to the international community.
“What I am going to do or what I am going to represent is the voice of youth,” he said. “We are promoting ourselves; we are building dialogue among us because we believe we are the future for our country.”
He also encouraged young people who were not selected for the trip to remain hopeful that they could represent their communities in similar initiatives in the future.
The initiative seeks to connect South Sudanese youths with their counterparts from other countries, expose them to different perspectives, and encourage them to return home with ideas that could positively influence their peers.
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