How African youths can foster peace building in the Sahel

Experts believe that engaging grassroots youth in Africa is crucial to fostering peace building and ending youth restiveness in conflict-affected areas. Sarra Messaoudi, Regional Coordinator for MENA Coalition on Youth Peace and Security, shared insights on the importance of collaborative networks and coalitions in addressing these challenges. Speaking from Abidjan, Sarra emphasized the need for young people to work together and share resources, knowledge, and capacity to tackle complex issues effectively. The shift towards non-hierarchical and decentralized leadership models within networks has become vital in addressing current challenges and fostering innovation and collaboration. Collaborative efforts are seen as essential for advancing peace, security, and development objectives in the Sahel region and beyond. Sarra highlighted the significance of the youth peace and security agenda in empowering African youth to play a central role in peace processes. Young people are demanding to be included as equal and meaningful leaders, rather than just consulted or included in decisions. The rise of national coalitions on youth peace and security across African countries signifies a shift towards recognizing young people as leaders and key contributors to peace efforts. Sarra discussed the importance of fostering intergenerational dialogue, particularly between youth-led peace-building organizations and the private sector. Encouraging private sector investment in youth-led initiatives can lead to innovative financing models that drive positive outcomes in peacebuilding. Sarra emphasized the need for increased investment in direct youth-led peace-building activities, as they have the potential to enhance governance, economic reforms, and conflict stability in communities. The MENA Coalition on Youth, Peace, and Security is exploring the creation of a working group to focus on private sector investment in youth-led peacebuilding initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa region. The drive towards empowering African youths to actively participate in peace-building efforts presents a significant opportunity for the continent to leverage the demographic dividend towards sustainable development and peace. By harnessing the mobilization power of young people and investing in their direct involvement in peace-building activities, stakeholders can contribute to building resilient communities and fostering positive outcomes for peace, security, and development in the Sahel region and beyond.