In the political arena of Africa in 2024, the stakes of the upcoming elections resonate as a crucial partition at the dawn of a new era. With major political movements and recent and emerging coups in various countries across the continent, this year is shaping up to be a turning point, with as many as 19 nations gearing up for presidential and general elections. Coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have seriously undermined democratic progress, and these upcoming elections offer an opportunity to rekindle the democratic flame, a major responsibility falling on African youth.
According to the latest data from Afrobarometer, young people are more likely than their elders to express dissatisfaction with democracy, distrust elected leaders and view military intervention as a solution against abusive leaders. Despite this, young people’s influence on national politics remains limited. There remains a general feeling that traditional politics and representative democracy struggle to resonate with younger generations, who are often excluded from political processes.
Worryingly, young people also show higher rates of dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy in their respective countries, especially at a time when democratic values appear to be crumbling across the continent. This discontent is exacerbated by issues such as unemployment, which is among young people’s biggest concerns, followed by concerns about economic management and health care. Furthermore, governments receive poor reviews from young people for their job creation efforts. Whereas previously, many African politicians have exploited the voting power of young people for personal political purposes, thereby exposing them to manipulation through the electoral process and making them vulnerable to electoral violence. This year’s elections are crucial for African youth to redefine themselves in the electoral process.
Despite lower rates of political participation among young people compared to their elders, it is essential for them to be fully involved at all stages of the electoral process and ensure that their voices are heard. Youth engagement can take many forms: as electoral candidates, administrators and voters.
In a continent facing threats to peace and security, youth participation in electoral processes is essential to ensure long-term stability and peace. Article 11 of the African Youth Charter highlights the right of young people to participate in all aspects of society. It sets out the measures that States Parties must take to promote the active participation of young people, including ensuring their presence in decision-making bodies, facilitating platforms for involvement at all levels of governance, ensuring equal access for young people men and women, prioritizing policies in favor of marginalized young people, providing access to information, professionalizing youth work, supporting youth organizations, promoting volunteering and including youth representatives in relevant meetings. By embracing these principles and actively involving young people, African nations can build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.
The advent of technology provides an opportunity to strengthen democratic governance through citizen involvement. Last year, the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy launched the Make Africa Digital campaign in seven countries, advocating digital transformation and bridging the digital divide. The AU Youth Envoy advocates policies and political commitments aimed at amplifying the rights and participation of young people in decision-making processes.
Recognizing the role of youth in both electoral processes and national development efforts, the African Union Commission, through the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, as part of a joint initiative with the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat and the AU Youth Envoy, will this year organize continent-wide training aimed at youth participation in electoral processes. Armed with adequate tools such as education and access to credible information, young people can participate in the socio-political discourse at the national level.
During the current year, the AU has set itself the goal of increasing youth participation in election observations to foster the emergence of a generation of politically informed and actively involved citizens.
In conclusion, the role and engagement of African youth in electoral and national development processes is essential to shaping a sustainable and democratic future for the continent. It is up to the youth to seize this opportunity to bring about positive change and actively participate in building democratic, inclusive and prosperous societies in Africa.