Morocco called on Wednesday for the full and meaningful participation of young Africans in violence prevention, peace processes and governance across the continent.
The call was launched by a Moroccan delegation before the African Union Peace and Security Council during an open session on “Youth, Peace and Security” held in Addid Ababa.
The delegation stressed the need to invest in the training, mentoring and capacity building of young Africans, notably in mediation, dialogue and preventive diplomacy, and to include them in the formal peace processes led by the AU. It also asked that members of the “WiseYouth” network be systematically involved in the AU’s preventive diplomacy and mediation efforts.
National action plans on youth, peace and security are essential to turn state commitments into concrete goals with timelines and resources, the delegation said. Implementation should support innovation, entrepreneurship and employability, through regional incubators and a continental fund for youth innovation and investment. Young people also need better access to research and data to anticipate threats linked to climate change, food insecurity, migration and digital technologies.
Morocco welcomed the appointment of Vanessa Nakate as the AU’s special envoy for youth and praised the Pan-African Youth Union (UPJ). Hosted in Morocco, the UPJ is recognized by AU Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as the continental coordinating body for youth organizations, and the kingdom gives it technical and financial support.
The delegation added that, under King Mohammed VI, Morocco helps train young Africans in diplomacy, conflict resolution, peacebuilding and countering extremism through its international cooperation agency.
The delegation acknowledged that young Africans still face limited access to education, unemployment and insufficient participation in governance and decision-making. “By giving young people the means to take part in decisions and peace processes, we strengthen the foundations of a stable, peaceful and prosperous Africa,” the delegation argued.
