Youth coalition urges gov’t to reduce minimum age limit for presidential candidates to 35

JUBA – A coalition of at least 20 national youth organizations in South Sudan on Tuesday demanded the reduction of the presidential and governorship age limit from 40 to 35.

South Sudan constitution states that one of the criteria for a citizen to run for the most powerful office is for that citizen to be at least 40 years or older.

Peter Malir Biar, Chairperson for the South Sudan Youth Organizations Coalition said reducing the minimum age for presidential aspirants to 35 will pave way for young people to run for political office in forthcoming elections.

“We want to see those young people participate and contribute as early as the age of 18 and up to the age of 35 and above,” Biar told reporters after the opening of a consultative workshop on the National Election Act, 2012, and Constitutional Amendment Process in Juba on Tuesday.

Biar said age limits are a common barrier to young people seeking political office in the world’s youngest nation.

“When we are looking at such policies, bills and laws then we are trying to look at the future of young people of this country,” Biar said.

The youth leader pointed out that the qualification and criteria spelled out in the National Election Act, 2012 are hindering young people from seeking top political positions.

“The loopholes include the age limit, for example, if you look at the qualification and criteria set for president and governors, it is shown to be 40,” he said.

He stressed the need to amend the National Election Act to ensure that the voices and concerns of young people are reflected in it.

“If you read the national elections act, there is a lot of business in it and the business is what we want to look at and see the voices and interest of young people being reflected there.”

“The national election act has a lot of loopholes that we feel young people should be able to put their voices there and be able to drive the process of this law.”