The former managing director of the state oil firm, Nilepet, says youth could lose their jobs if South Sudan joins the East African Community.

The government is negotiating its membership in the economic bloc.

Paul Adong says South Sudanese jobs are not protected and expressed worry that this could worsen if the country joins the bloc.

Mr Adong was speaking at a public lecture organized by the Sudd Institute on localizing the petroleum sector.

He said jobs that supposedly belong to the locals have been taken over by foreigners and this could worsen if the country joined the economic bloc.

“How many cleaners are from other countries in this country? How many drivers are from other countries?” he asked.

“So I don’t even think as we speak the sector is protected  because there are a lot of young people who need to take this jobs but it they have not been protected.”

Engineer Paul Adong did not mention the number of non-South Sudanese employed in the oil companies since the Independence of South Sudan.

Earlier, the Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs, Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, told Eye Radio that foreign investment would be slow if South Sudan does not join the community.

He said the country could also remain in economic isolation.