African Union Youth Programs

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐘 𝐇.𝐄. 𝐃𝐑. 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐇 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐁𝐈𝐆, 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐍-𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐘 1 November 2026 On the occasion of African Youth Day, I extend warm greetings to young people across Africa and the diaspora. Today, we celebrate their creativity, resilience and determination, and reaffirm our responsibility to ensure that their voices shape the decisions governing our continent’s future. Africa’s young people are already contributing to change—as entrepreneurs, innovators, parliamentarians, peacebuilders and community leaders. Their aspirations and contributions must occupy a central place in our efforts to build the peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Yet, too many young Africans continue to face unemployment, limited access to quality education and skills development, and the consequences of conflict and displacement. Addressing these barriers requires sustained investment, accountable institutions and meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in public life. Parliaments have a particular responsibility in this endeavour. Through legislation, budget scrutiny, oversight and representation, we must help translate continental commitments into tangible improvements in young people’s lives. This includes advancing the implementation of the African Youth Charter, expanding economic opportunities and strengthening youth participation in governance. I commend the Youth Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament for its work in championing youth priorities and bringing the perspectives of young parliamentarians into our institution’s deliberations. The Caucus provides an important platform for dialogue, advocacy and cooperation, helping to strengthen the connection between parliamentary action and the concerns of Africa’s younger generation. Its contribution remains essential to making the Pan-African Parliament more responsive to the people it represents. Building on this work, the Pan-African Parliament will organise a dedicated youth conference in 2027 to engage young people on their contribution to the African Union’s agenda, particularly the implementation of Agenda 2063. The conference will provide a platform for young Africans to share their priorities, propose practical solutions and engage directly with parliamentarians and other stakeholders on advancing continental development. Our ambition is to strengthen a continuing partnership with young people, through which their ideas inform parliamentary priorities and their participation helps drive implementation. The Youth Caucus will be central to advancing this engagement. On this African Youth Day, I call on governments, national parliaments, regional institutions, civil society and development partners to deepen investment in youth and create accessible pathways to leadership, decent work, entrepreneurship and innovation. Particular attention must be given to young women, young people with disabilities, and those living in rural and conflict-affected communities. To Africa’s young people: your voice matters, your ideas deserve to be heard, and your participation is indispensable to our shared progress. The Pan-African Parliament stands with you in building a continent where every young person has the opportunity to contribute, lead and thrive. Happy African Youth Day. 𝐇.𝐄. 𝐃𝐫. 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐡 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐧-𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭