SSNYU President Taban Paride Promises Solution to Unruly Youth Gangs

Author: Baria Johnson | Published: 22 minutes ago

Taban Paride, chairman of the South Sudan National Youth Union, speaks on Eye Radio’s Zone 72 programme. (Photo: Awan Moses)

South Sudan National Youth Union (SSNYU) chairman Taban Paride said his leadership is developing a strategy to tackle the rise and prevalence of gang groups in the country.

Unruly gangs, commonly known as “niggas,” pose a major security risk in Juba and other major cities. Their rise has been attributed to unemployment and disenfranchisement.

But National Youth Trade Union President Taban Paride said his office plans to build more vocational training centres to transform the youth so they can contribute to the country’s workforce.

Mr Paride said the programme will enable youth to contribute to their well-being and the development of the country.

“We are developing a very big concept. Our aim is to look at the bigger picture of how we want the youth, especially the Panga boys,” he said on Eye Radio’s Zone 72 Youth Program.

“We are developing a multifunctional place where standard vocational training will be provided, where there will be a school and a church and which will serve as a rehabilitation center so that the children who are brought there can attend classes.”

“The church will play its part and thirdly they will produce food for us. They will contribute to the human resources of this country and when it comes to labor they will be there too.”

In November 2023, the Inspector General of Police ordered a large-scale crackdown on suspected criminal youth groups, leading to the arrest of 500 adolescents and young people in Juba.