Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has called on young Africans to take a leading role in peacebuilding and socio-economic development, saying the continent’s future depends on their commitment to dialogue and stability.
Ndayishimiye made the appeal at the opening of the Fourth Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security, held in Bujumbura, Burundi’s economic capital, amid persistent conflicts in several parts of Africa.
“Youth must be at the centre of building peace and development in our countries,” the president said, urging young people to engage constructively in resolving disputes and addressing the underlying causes of instability.
Ndayishimiye, who serves as the African Union’s champion for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa, said dialogue should be prioritised over confrontation, drawing on Burundi’s own experience of emerging from years of political crisis.
“Dialogue is what ultimately brings peace and lasting solutions. It is better to begin with dialogue than to use it as a last resort,” he said.
Youth and conflict
Africa has one of the world’s youngest populations, with people under 25 accounting for more than 60 percent of the continent’s inhabitants. While youth are often at the forefront of political movements and social change, they are frequently marginalised in formal decision-making processes.
Speakers at the forum stressed that excluding young people from governance and peace processes can fuel frustration, unemployment and conflict, while their meaningful participation can help consolidate peace and strengthen institutions.
Moumouni Dialla, president of the Pan-African Youth Union, said peace and security were essential foundations for development.
“Nothing great can be built without peace and security,” Dialla said, calling for greater investment in youth-led initiatives aimed at conflict prevention and social cohesion.
Regional instability
The two-day meeting is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing insecurity in parts of the continent, including the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has raised concerns about regional spillover across the Great Lakes area.
Sghair Said, the African Union’s high representative for the Great Lakes Region, said the AU remained committed to placing youth, peace and security at the heart of its priorities, particularly in regions affected by protracted violence.
“Young people are not just victims of conflict they are also key actors in building durable peace,” he said.
AU agenda
The Youth, Peace and Security agenda was adopted by the African Union to promote the participation of young people in peacebuilding, governance and post-conflict reconstruction, in line with similar frameworks endorsed by the United Nations.
The AU has repeatedly urged member states to create space for youth engagement in political processes, address unemployment and inequality, and tackle the socio-economic drivers of conflict.
Organised by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Burundian government, the dialogue brings together youth leaders, policymakers, civil society representatives and regional officials to assess progress and identify ways to strengthen youth participation in peace and security initiatives across Africa.
Officials said the discussions aim to translate commitments into concrete action, ensuring that young people play a meaningful role in shaping a more peaceful and prosperous continent.
