Youth-Inclusion In The ‘Silencing The Gun’ Initiative Of The African Union (A.U)

In the global arena, Africa has routinely been dubbed as ‘a continent at war with itself’. As a matter of fact, the statement is not far from the truth as the region has witnessed quite a number of civil wars and other forms of conflict since the attainment of independence by African states. Admittedly, conflict tops the list of the challenges impeding the growth and development of the continent, followed closely by poverty, inequality, unemployment, climate change, illegal financial flows and corruption.

It is therefore not surprising that during the 50th Anniversary of the African Union as the pre-eminent African Intergenerational organization, the AU Assembly of Heads of States and Government made a solemn declaration that articulated their ‘determination to achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa, to make peace a reality for all our people and rid the continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts, and to prevent genocide’. This goal was encapsulated under Agenda 2063- Africa’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development. 

One of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063, in recognizing the peace and security challenges in the continent, was ‘Silencing the guns by 2020’. This project aimed at ending all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and preventing genocide by the year 2020. Unfortunately, the 2020 International Day of Peace finds this dream unattained. Progress has been made in regions such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Somalia but guns are yet to be silenced in South Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic. In cognizance of this fact and the seriousness of the peace and security issue in the continent, the African Union’s theme and main agenda for the year is ‘Silencing the Guns’ to create a conducive environment for Africa’s development. The rationale for this initiative is that by significantly reducing or eradicating conflicts in the continent, African states can focus their resources towards the realization of the Pan-African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

The growing momentum for the push towards inclusive peace and security matters by the United Nations marked through the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2050 on Youth, Peace, and Security in 2015, has seen the efforts in Africa to include young people in the ‘Silencing the Guns’ initiative. The UNSCR 2050 affirms the positive role young men and women play in maintaining and promoting international peace and security and in building and advancing peace and security in their own countries. The shift in conversation from youth being victims or perpetrators of conflict to them being the leaders actively involved in peace-building since 2015 has occasioned the rise of more initiatives and public spaces for youth engagement in the decision-making processes concerning peace in the globe.

The youth make up the majority of the world’s population, at around 1.85 billion. Young people are therefore the most affected by conflict and wars both in the short-term long-term. For instance, a research done by Search For Common Ground indicates that one in four young people today are living in or affected by armed conflicts or violence. It was hence only prudent to amplify and open up public spaces for the contribution of the people whose lives are most affected by the increased conflict and violence in the world.

Africa is the world’s youngest continent. According to the United Nations, African youth make up 19% of the world’s population and 65% of Africa’s population. The exclusion of young people in decision-making spaces only means that a majority of the people affected by these decisions are left out of the equation. The Agenda 2063 and particular the ‘Silencing the Guns’ initiative needed to be steered by the most energetic and populous group in the region. The 2020 International Peace Day theme-‘Shaping Peace Together’ is reflective of the growing need to ensure effective and wholesome participation of all people involved in the peace-building agenda of the United Nations and other International Organizations. Consequently, the African Union recently launched the Youth Silencing the Guns Campaign aimed at advancing youth roles and capacities for silencing the guns in Africa. The campaign seeks to provide a platform to mobilize the development and support of key actions that can be undertaken by youth to fast track the implementation of the Silencing the Gun Agenda.

The African Youth Charter, under Article 11, grants young people in Africa the right to participate in all spheres of life. The Charter further obligates states to take several steps to ascertain that this goal of participation is achieved. For instance, the AU state parties are mandated to facilitate the creation or strengthening of platforms for youth participation in decision-making at the local, national, regional and continental levels of governance.

Additionally, the clause in the Charter on peace and security, it recognizes the significant role of youth in the promotion of peace and non-violence as well as the lasting physical and psychological scars that result from the involvement in violence, armed conflict, and war. Taking this into consideration, the Charter calls on state parties to strengthen the capacity of young people and youth organizations in peace-building, conflict prevention and conflict resolution through dialogue and cooperation, solidarity, international cooperation, among others.  The inclusion of the youth in ensuring that Africa achieves its goal of being a conflict-free region is therefore in line with this Charter. 

By Karen Koech, Research and Business Development Associate at The Youth Café.

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