The Fourth AU Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security opened in Bujumbura, Burundi, with strong appeals for investment in youth empowerment as a cornerstone for peace, stability, and sustainable development across Africa.
Burundi Calls for a Youth Empowerment Fund and Regional Incubators
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Thierry Ingabire, President of the National Youth Council of Burundi 🇧🇮, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen youth opportunities through concrete mechanisms. He called for the creation of:
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A continental youth empowerment fund,
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Regional incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship,
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And other initiatives aimed at equipping young people with skills, resources, and opportunities.
Dr. Ingabire stressed that empowering youth is essential not only for economic growth but also for long-term stability in the region.
Pan-African Youth Union Highlights Job Creation Needs
Echoing this message, Hon. Moumouni Dialla, President of the Pan-African Youth Union, stressed the importance of job-creation initiatives. He highlighted the crucial role young people can play in peacebuilding efforts when provided with meaningful economic opportunities.
UNDP: Strengthen Partnerships and Youth-Centred Approaches
Ms. Emma Ngouan-Anoh, UNDP Resident Representative, underlined the need to:
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Strengthen partnerships between governments, youth institutions, and development partners
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Ensure inclusive and youth-centred approaches
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Integrate youth voices into peace and security strategies
She reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to supporting initiatives that place young people at the heart of Africa’s development and stability agenda.
ECCAS Announces Youth Volunteer Programme
H.E. Ézéchiel Nibigira, President of the ECCAS Commission, emphasized the strategic value of youth participation in peace and security. He announced upcoming plans to launch a regional ECCAS youth volunteer programme, designed to promote leadership, community engagement, and regional cooperation among young people.
Theme: Youth Empowerment in Development, Agrifood Systems and Mineral Value Chains
The 2025 dialogue is being held under the theme:
“Beyond the rhetoric: Youth empowerment and engagement in sustainable development, agrifood systems and mineral value chains as a key driver for the Continental Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.”
From 11 to 13 December 2025, participants including senior policymakers from AU member states, international organizations, development partners, civil society, and youth entrepreneurs from Burundi, Africa, and the diaspora are discussing how to operationalize this agenda and achieve tangible impact.
A Turning Point for Africa’s Youth Peace and Security Agenda
This year’s dialogue marks a significant moment for Africa’s Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda, highlighting a growing continental consensus: Africa’s stability and prosperity depend on enabling its youth to lead, innovate, and shape the future.
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