31/03/2026
Spotlight on the Atar Youth Elections in Juba
What is beautiful about the Atar youth elections is that people came to know one another and connected with other communities. Some people used to ask, “Are you Ngok Atar?” and others would reply, “No, we are Paweny De Atar, one of the clans of the twelve Padang.” The community was also known through prominent names such as former minister Gier Chuang Aluong.
However, polarization played a deeply negative role. Without the elections, many individuals would have remained unknown—there was nothing bringing people together or giving others a reason to know them, not even their names. Yet the positive side, and a key social objective, was that people came to know each other across different social groups.
The worst part is that some individuals began diverting others from the true purpose of the elections, dragging people into personal conflicts. Some of them cannot even manage their own lives, yet they criticize others who are progressing and who hold academic qualifications. Let me remind you: a certificate is valuable, but it only makes sense to speak about it if you actually have one.
There is an unfortunate trend of people speaking about academic competence when some of them have not even completed primary or secondary education, let alone university—the same qualifications they criticize in others. Despite having had opportunities in the past, they now behave like those who say, “We liberated this country, so do not question us.”
Even worse, some individuals assign themselves professional titles—claiming to be doctors, engineers, or lawyers—when in reality they did not complete their studies and left university at a time when the country needed them. To such individuals, it must be said: you are still young, and there is still time to correct your path.
There are also those who spent many years in universities—which can be understandable—but exceeded reasonable timeframes without graduating. After repeated setbacks, they now speak and advise others who are working diligently in their respective fields. Some have never even undergone basic training, yet they proudly present themselves as graduates.
Elections are not a reason for self-glorification or an opportunity for revenge. Social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp do not grant academic degrees, nor do they elevate your status. It is better, my brother or sister, to invest your effort in earning a real qualification rather than chasing the illusion of “Facebook certificates” that exist only in posts, collecting likes that disappear within 24 hours.
Insults will never make you a professor, a doctor, a journalist, or an engineer. These professions require real qualifications. Avoid the illusion created by social media.
The Atar community, like all communities in South Sudan, has its history and roots, with its own customs and traditions. Remember, life continues after elections. We will return to our normal lives—our neighborhoods, our gathering places, and our daily routines.
My advice to every young man and woman: if you value education and believe in its importance, work hard and strive for it. At the very least, pursue a diploma or vocational training. There is a saying: “Every hardworking person has a share of success.”
If work is honorable—and it is—you are still young. Leave laziness behind and seek opportunities. Sometimes, lack of direction leads people into destructive behavior. As the saying goes, do not engage in conflict with someone who has nothing to lose. Some people cannot engage with you rationally because they lack perspective, and sometimes their silence in the face of disorder is not weakness but respect for their standing among others.
I advise some of my brothers: engage in volunteer work. Volunteering is valuable and far more beneficial than chasing empty praise from those who have not contributed meaningfully to their own lives. It can help you overcome frustration and may open doors to stable employment, while also building valuable relationships.
Freedom is not about speaking recklessly. Criticizing respected individuals is not an achievement, nor does it earn you a degree. Do not deceive yourself. Academic qualifications—whether in engineering, media, law, or any other field—are not just pieces of paper. They represent knowledge and credibility. Speaking on matters you do not understand reflects ignorance.
To the youth: be independent. Do not become followers or tools in the hands of others. Build your future yourself. There may come a time when you have no one to rely on—no uncle, no brother, no relative. If you do not become strong now, even systems of favoritism will not sustain you. Strength does not lie in criticizing others online, but in building real capacity. Otherwise, you may find yourself speaking only about the past instead of contributing with knowledge, data, and practical impact. Take responsibility before it is too late.
Finally, elections are not a matter of life and death. There will always be winners and losers—that is normal. We must train ourselves to accept both outcomes. Losing does not mean failure; it simply means there were shortcomings that can be corrected for future success.
Journalist: Deng Akoch Miyom
