Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye opened the 3rd Edition of the Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace, and Security, emphasizing the crucial role of education and skills development in empowering Africa’s youth.
The theme of this year’s dialogue, “Strengthening the capacities of African youth for peace, education and enhanced coordination as catalysts for the implementation of the continental agenda for youth, peace and security,” aligns with the African Union’s 2024 focus on youth education and training, which Ndayishimiye highlighted as vital for fostering entrepreneurial capacities across the continent.
Speaking before a large crowd of young Africans gathered in Bujumbura, Ndayishimiye who serves as the African Union’s Champion for the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda, stressed the importance of quality education.
“The youth of this continent will only be able to constitute an enormous demographic dividend if and only if they benefit from quality education and are equipped with skills appropriate to the needs, in today’s globalized and competitive context,” said Ndayishimiye.
He underscored that youth are key to social cohesion and peacebuilding across Africa. “We can affirm that to ensure social cohesion and the consolidation of peace and security, it is essential to unleash the potential of youth, as an essential component of the population and builders of peace,” he added.
President Ndayishimiye also called on participants to reflect on ways to promote peace education across Africa and equip young people with the necessary skills to foster peace both within their communities and globally.
“This dialogue is an opportunity for us to engage in reflection on how to promote peace education in Africa, and to equip our youth with the skills necessary to cultivate peace for themselves and for the world to which they belong,” he said in French.
The Continental Dialogue aims to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the development of policies that address the challenges and opportunities for youth in the areas of peace, security, and sustainable development across Africa.
The Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace, and Security is an annual event that brings together youth leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the role of young people in promoting peace and security in Africa. The event is a platform for youth to actively engage in shaping the continent’s future by contributing to the African Union’s Youth, Peace, and Security agenda.
