Ateny Wek Ateny, Minister of Information, Communications, Technology, and Postal Services addressing national media conference on December 16, 2025. Credit: Eye Radio/Awan Moses

Government spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny has come to the defense of South Sudanese youth, dismissing claims that high unemployment is caused by idleness.

Ateny’s remarks follow a sharp public reaction to statements made by Senior Presidential Advisor Kuol Manyang Juk, who characterized South Sudanese citizens as “lazy and unwilling to do productive work.”

Speaking during funeral prayers for the late Anglican Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, on March 30, Kuol Manyang asserted that laziness and jealousy are among the primary drivers of the ongoing crises in South Sudan.

However, addressing a separate gathering on Monday, April 6—a funeral service for civilians killed in the Khor Kaltan incident—Ateny offered a different perspective.

He argued that the high rate of youth unemployment is a result of a lack of professional opportunities rather than a lack of willingness to work.

Ateny maintained that young people are eager to be productive but are currently held back by a stagnant private sector and a severe shortage of available jobs.

Kuol Manyang’s original comments have triggered a wave of criticism from citizens across the country. Many are now questioning the government’s efforts to create sustainable jobs, provide vocational training, and improve economic opportunities since South Sudan gained independence.

Ateny referenced a 2005 government initiative designed to kickstart private enterprise. He noted that instead of using provided funds to build a business foundation for the country, many beneficiaries chose a different path.

“Me, I am not one of those who say youths don’t work because I know youths work, but where they work is not there,” Ateny stated.

“For instance, in 2005, when the government provided people with money to do business, they ended up leaving that money and joining politics. This led to the absence of a private sector and made people depend only on government jobs.”

The spokesperson emphasized that the current reliance on government employment as a primary source of income is unsustainable.

He called for a shift in focus toward creating an “enabling environment” through strategic investments in business and job creation to boost youth productivity.

Ateny’s remarks come amid a heated public debate, where some critics have blamed young people for the country’s economic stagnation and high unemployment figures.

The funeral prayers, organized by members of the Aweil community in Juba, served as a somber backdrop for the spokesperson’s call for national unity and economic reform.