South Sudan’s Youth Must Stop the Politics of Sycophancy to Move Forward

(Pachodo.org) - As we have entered 2026—a year critical to our transition toward long-awaited elections—the youth, who approximately represent over 70 percent of our population, stand at a critical juncture. In the corridors of power in Juba and across the ten states plus three administrative areas of South Sudan, a destructive trend has taken root: the politics of sycophancy. This practice has been ongoing since 2011. Unfortunately, it is being embraced by youth. For too long, the vibrant energy of young South Sudanese has been traded for the temporary favour of influential political uncles, sacrificing the nation’s future for a handout culture which sincerely offers no genuine security at all. 

To make it crystal clear, I must first elucidate what it is, how it is being practiced, and why it is so dangerous for the future of young South Sudanese. 

 Politics of sycophancy, as the name suggests, is the practice of seeking favour from those in power through insincere flattery, unquestioning obedience, and self-serving servility. In the South Sudanese context, this usually manifests as ‘praise-singing’, where young people act not only as physical agents but also as digital moderators for political elites, defending their actions regardless of the harm caused to the public interests.

This practice is a transactional relationship rooted in patronage: the politician provides a small stipend or protection, and in exchange, the youth offer blind loyalty, and at times, serve as instruments of political intimidation. Such behaviour is the enemy of meritocracy and progress. For example, when sycophancy becomes the primary path to opportunities, talented graduates are often sidelined by those who shout the loudest praises, and national progress grinds to a halt. As a Nuer proverb wisely cautions, “No one breathes with the nose of another person.” Relying on the patronage of elites for survival is a form of political suffocation.

Politics of sycophancy in South Sudan is a survival mechanism born of economic desperation. With youth unemployment currently stands at 95 percent in certain sectors, many young South Sudanese feel that they have no choice but to engage in apparent flattery to earn a living. This mind set transforms a generation of potential leaders into political subordinates. Consequently, politicians across different political spectrums exploit this vulnerability, using young people to fuel conflict, especially during elections time, only to sideline them once their power is consolidated. The 2025 studies reveal that youth representation in the country’s highest executive offices remains very low. While applauses may be loud, we must remember that there is no substitute for the substance of leadership and the trust of the people.

One of the most insidious forms of political sycophancy is its disguise as ethnic loyalty. Many young South Sudanese defend leaders solely because of a shared tribe, not knowing that they are feeding a system that undermines the nation. As an African proverb notes, “In a country where there is no crocodile, a monitor lizard swaggers.” When effective, law-abiding authority is absent in a country, corrupt actors swagger as if they were kings because their youth wings enable them.

As we look toward the potential 2026 elections, the youth must prioritize a shared national identity. The National Strategy on Youth, Peace and Security, for example, emphasizes social cohesion. We are one people, and our diversity should be our strength, not a tool for the self-enrichment of a few.

In addition, the passing of the National Youth Development Policy by members of the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA) in 2025 signifies a rare moment of institutional progress. This policy mandates that young people hold 20 percent of positions in national and state governments and pledges that 10 percent of the national budget will be allocated to youth-led social projects and entrepreneurship.

However, this framework will remain meaningless if the youth continue to play the role of the subservient followers. To pause this paradox, they must work proactively to expedite the implementation of this roadmap, a true test of youth’s collective agency. They must stop serving interests that will eventually consume them, and demand their rightful place in governance through competence, rather than through empty praises.

True political independence is impossible without economic self-sufficiency. When a young person’s livelihood depends on a politician’s handout, their voice is effectively silenced. To break this shackle, the youth must move toward independence by leveraging the 2025 policy’s focus on entrepreneurship and skill-building, and rejecting the handout culture. Recognizing that a system built on crumbs will never provide true nourishment for the nation, transitioning from “praise-singers” to policy-shapers who contribute to the national discourse with intellectual rigour becomes an existential necessity. 

South Sudan cannot afford another decade of stagnation fuelled by the politics of sycophancy. The youth must reject the cliché that they are merely the leaders of tomorrow and assert that they are the foundation of today. It is time to stop the flattery and the pursuit of unearned favours. The future is built by those who dare to act with integrity and independence. 

Let the youth be the architects of a united nation and the cultivators of peace. South Sudan belongs to all its citizens—not to one tribe, and certainly not to a handful of politicians who treat the national treasury as their personal property. For the sake of our survival and the soul of our nation, the youth must move beyond the politics of sycophancy and embrace the responsibility of genuine leadership.

About the writer

Amaju Ubur Yalamoi Ayani, aka Amaju Joseph Ubur Ayani, is a teacher and political commentator. He can be reached via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..