Young men in Pibor. (Photo: Liselott Lindström).

Authorities in Greater Pibor Administrative Area say the World Food Program has initiated a casual employment project targeting about 600 youth in the area.

Last Friday, a delegation of government officials and the World Food Program visited Pibor to boost the peace efforts and youth engagement in productive activities in the area.

During the visit, WFP announced the initiation of a casual work project for young people with registration commencing today.

According to an official, the youth will be engaged in road clearance among other casual works with each individual earning SSP 6,000 per day.

Minister of Information Abraham Kelang Jiji says the initiative is meant to ensure youth are engaged in productive activities and have no time for criminalities.

“This plan came from WFP, they are suggesting four locations in GPAA to support them. This selected 150 youth will be engaged in some activities and will be paid six thousand SSP because the youth don’t have any other jobs,” he said.

“We are calling them to stay in peace. The registration begins exactly today Monday. We need to engage the youth to be busy in their own time and reduce the conflict with other tribes.”

Meanwhile, a government official in Jonglei State told City Review newspaper, that they have resolved with Pibor to mobilize young men who will escort WFP vehicles delivering food assistance in the two areas.

In December 2022, deadly inter-communal violence in Gumuruk County in Pibor, resulted in the death of dozens of people, abduction of over a hundred women and children and the displacement of thousands.