South Sudan Marks Day of African Child
Young people in South Sudan are calling on African governments to better prepare the youth for future leadership roles. This was the message from hundreds of South Sudanese students who joined the rest of the continent in marking the 2025 Day of the African Child.
Celebrated every year on June 16, the event commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa, where over 20,000 black schoolchildren protested against poor education and the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction. The peaceful protest was met with brutal force—an estimated 176 children were killed, and hundreds more injured.
Speaking during the commemoration event held in Juba, Naomi Joseph, Speaker of South Sudan’s Children’s Parliament, called on the government to invest more in the general welbing of young people – for a better future.
“The government has the primary responsibility of ensuring our welfare. It’s not just about building schools and hospitals—it’s about access,” Naomi said. “We are the leaders of tomorrow. If you don’t feed or educate us, how will we present ourselves on global platforms—or will we remain silent and sidelined?” she posed the question to policy makers like Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) who joined the youth in marking the auspicious day.
Naomi Joseph, Speaker, South Sudan’s Child Parliament. She called on the government to prioritise education and health for children.
Naomi emphasized that true empowerment means investing in children’s health, nutrition, and education. Without this, she said, young people are denied the tools they need to lead meaningful lives.
In February 2023, President Salva Kiir ordered the implementation of free primary and secondary education. Yet, many children remain out of school due to persistent conflict and unaffordable tuition fees.
Limited resources and frequent budget cuts have also hindered access to quality education. Despite limited progress, challenges remain.
“While acknowledging progress, we also recognize we’ve fallen short—and must keep striving,” said Hon Nunu, who also attended the event.
Speaker Nunu noted that the failure to enforce government policies has stalled improvements in children's living conditions.
By law, at least 10% of the national budget should go to education. However, in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, only SSP 81 billion was allocated to the Ministry of General Education and Instruction—just 4.3%. This was slightly increased to SSP 91 billion in 2023/2024 but is set to drop again in the 2024/2025 budget by 2.6%.
Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) joins hundreds of South Sudanese children in marking the Day of African Child.
Speaker Nunu called for accountability and child-focused planning in future budgets.
“Our political responsibility is clear: every pound must advance children's rights. This requires transparent, inclusive, and child-sensitive budgeting,” she said.
As the legislature awaits the 2024/2025 national budget, Speaker Nunu affirmed that parliament would push for a focused plan that integrates children's needs into national development priorities.
“To secure a brighter future, we must prioritize education, nutrition, and protection—especially for the girl child,” she said. “We will ensure sufficient funding for education, health, and social services, and demand transparency.”
She also made a strong call to end child marriage.
“Let girls complete their education before marriage. They’ll return stronger—serving their families, society, and nation more effectively.”
The International Day of the African Child honors the courage of those who protested in Soweto and aims to raise awareness about the state of children’s rights and education across Africa.
Established in 1991 by the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union), the day also offers a platform for governments, NGOs, and communities to reflect on the challenges—and opportunities—facing children on the continent.
