There are approximately 840 million Africans under the age of twenty-five. This cohort of young people—representing almost one in eight people in the world—is disproportionately affected by, but currently underrepresented in, decisions about security and peacebuilding.
The Africa Center spoke to the African Union’s Youth Envoy, Ms. Chido Mpemba, about the need to bring young people around the table and to have their voices heard on initiatives for peace and strengthening national security strategies. She shared perspectives from her conversations with the continent’s youth and about promising programs that the African Union and its partners are pursuing to expand platforms for youth voices on security matters.
Additional Resources
- Maxime Ricard and Kouamé Félix Grodji, “Collaborative Policing and Negotiating Urban Order in Abidjan,” Africa Security Brief, No. 40, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, November 2021.
- Peter Biar Ajak, “African Youth Engaging in Peace and Security,” Spotlight, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, April 29, 2021.
- Amanda Lucey and Jaynisha Patel, “Building Youth Resilience to Violent Extremism in Mozambique: Perspectives from Cabo Delgado,” Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, 2021.
- Africa Center for Strategic Studies, “The Battle for the Soul of Uganda,” Spotlight, December 8, 2020.
- Africa Center for Strategic Studies, “#EndSARS Demands Nigerian Police Reform,” Spotlight, November 10, 2020.
- Stephen Commins, “From Urban Fragility to Urban Stability,” Africa Security Brief, No. 35, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, June 2018.