Presidential Affairs Minister Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin. (Photo: Moyo Jacob Felix/ Eye Media).

The Minister of Presidential Affairs on Tuesday called on South Sudanese youth to denounce tribalism and embrace nationalism.

Dr Barnaba Marial made the called on Monday during a one-day discussion on peaceful coexistence dubbed as“Tukul Talks”.

It is an initiative of the UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation in Juba.

In his remarks, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin called on the youth to unite for the common good of the country.

“If another foreigner comes, will he tell who is a Dinka, a Nuer, a Muru, a Bari, a Zande, a Latuko, a Balanda, can you tell that now here? This is a good sample that we must fight tribalism,” Marial said.

“This is a nation we are looking for. Nowhere in this world where you will find a country of one tribe, nothing even in civilized countries even in United Kingdom, there are different groups there, but it is known as Great Britain. You go to America, there a lot of people, Greek, Italian, African, American, everybody but when they talk about themselves, they say we are Americans.”

“So why, why not you? Your young people who are here, why don’t you say I am a South Sudanese.”

The event held under the theme: “Let’s build bridges together”, was attended by youth groups, women, traditional leaders, religious leaders, state and national government officials.

The initiative seeks to encourage inter-generational exchange of ideas that support peaceful coexistence and reinforce human rights and opportunities to youth.