Presentation from Session 7 of our Emerging Security Sector Leaders Seminar
Africa remains the world’s youngest continent with a median age of 19.7 years. By 2050, one in three young people will live in sub-Saharan Africa. Faced with staggering youth unemployment and widespread dissatisfaction with the performance of their governments, young Africans are growing restless. This restlessness is manifested in the increasing tensions between a reform-minded youth and political actors who wield power through the politics of exclusion. The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 2250) and the African Union’s Continental Framework for Youth, Peace, and Security defines “Youth, Peace and Security” as “conscious actions and processes to protect young people from participation in, and the ill effects of, violent conflicts and insecurity, and to promote and support their contributions to peace efforts in conflict and post-conflict situations.”
Despite policy pronouncements and normative instruments, progress on the meaningful inclusion of young women and men in shaping peace and security remains slow in Africa. Core challenges include structural barriers limiting youth participation and youth capacity to influence decision-making; violations of their human rights; and insufficient investment in facilitating their inclusion and empowerment.
Without a path for reform, youth will despair, and conditions will further deteriorate, possibly leading to more instability and conflict. Yet, most African youth have not chosen the path of violence. Many have been leading the record numbers of peaceful protests seen across Africa in recent years. This raises the question of how youth can meaningfully and constructively engage in their countries, pushing for reforms and improved security. The Youth, Peace and Security agenda has gained momentum in recent years and marks a shift in the understanding of who young people are and what their role is in peace and security. While many African governments recognize young people’s essential role in peace and security and as positive drivers of change, more work is still to be done. This includes providing youth access to quality education and skill development for gainful employment to enhance their economic role in society and, in turn, their contributions to peace and security.
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