AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye: Youth Must Become “Strongest Defenders” of Democracy in Africa
African youth must be positioned as “guardians of constitutional democracy” if the continent is to overcome governance crises, H.E. Amb. Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said Thursday at the Third AU Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Accra.
Speaking on behalf of AU Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Adeoye told delegates that Africa’s young population is its “greatest strategic advantage and asset,” but only if youth are treated as “active partners in governance, peacebuilding and democratic renewal,” not just beneficiaries.
Forum Focuses on Youth Inclusivity
The forum, themed _“Youth Inclusivity for African Stability,”_ brought together ministers, ambassadors, AU Peace and Security Council members, regional bodies, and African Union Youth Ambassadors for Peace. It was hosted by the Government of Ghana, with President John Dramani Mahama represented by the Chief of Staff.
Adeoye noted that while six AU Member States remain suspended following coups, restoring constitutional order “requires more than responding to crises.” He said rebuilding trust between institutions and citizens, especially young people, is critical.
Three Roles for African Youth
The Commissioner outlined three ways youth can strengthen democracy:
1. Guardians of shared values – Upholding constitutional principles
2. Ambassadors of civic responsibility – Promoting democratic culture, dialogue, and active citizenship
3. Digital innovators – Using AI and tech to boost civic education, transparency, counter misinformation, and expand participation
“If democracy is to endure, it must deliver hope, opportunity and inclusion for youth in particular,” Adeoye said.
AU Targets 70% Youth in Election Observer Missions
Adeoye announced the AU is working to attain *60 to 70 per cent youth representation* among election observers in 2026. He called it an “ambitious but achievable goal” reflecting confidence in Africa’s young people.
He urged the Peace and Security Council, Regional Economic Communities, and Member States to expand youth participation in decision-making, invest in civic education and peacebuilding skills, and ensure youth perspectives inform policy.
Message to Africa’s Youth: “Do Not Surrender Your Future”
Addressing young Africans directly, Adeoye said: “From the Sahel to Sudan, from the Horn of Africa to Madagascar, your generation has the opportunity to become the strongest force for constitutional order, accountable leadership, peaceful political transitions and lasting peace.”
He added: “Do not surrender your future to the politics of division or the disruption of constitutional governance. Be the generation that strengthens democracy… that rejects violence.”
Solidarity with Ghana After Floods
The AU also expressed “deepest sympathies and solidarity” with Ghana following devastating floods this week, expressing confidence in the country’s resilience. Adeoye thanked President Mahama for Ghana’s “steadfast commitment” to democratic governance and youth inclusion.
Background: The Accra Declaration
The Reflection Forum was first convened in Accra in 2022 amid a “troubling resurgence” of coups. That meeting produced the Accra Declaration_, reaffirming the AU’s zero-tolerance policy on unconstitutional changes of government and calling for stronger democratic institutions.
The second forum in 2024 acknowledged the challenge had grown more complex, citing insecurity, terrorism, governance deficits, and citizen exclusion as drivers of instability.
