Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) in West Africa: ECOWAS IHolds Meeting in Senega,Set to Shape Safer West Africa.
By Raymond Enoch
In a bold step toward strengthening regional stability, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a series of high-level consultations in Senegal aimed at empowering youth as central agents in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and governance.
The initiative kicked off in Matam with a landmark gathering of government leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, and international development partners to lay the groundwork for Senegal’s first-ever National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS).
Set against the backdrop of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the UN Security Council Resolution 2250, the consultations are designed to elevate youth voices in national decision-making processes and reinforce regional efforts to combat violent extremism and instability.
Deputy Governor of Matam, Baba Hann, formally opened the session, hailing the process as a “people-driven approach to peacebuilding,” and pledged to elevate the recommendations to Senegal’s Presidency. “This inclusive platform reflects our commitment to meaningful youth engagement in shaping a secure future,” Hann said.
Representing ECOWAS, Mr. Arthur Obayuwana, on behalf of Mr. Constant Gnacadja, underscored the strategic importance of involving West Africa’s youth — who make up nearly 70% of the region’s 400 million citizens — in building resilient communities.
“The Youth, Peace and Security framework is not just a policy; it is a lifeline for our region’s future,” Obayuwana stressed, citing the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework as a guiding document.
The event, facilitated by the Association pour la Promotion du Leadership des Jeunes Femmes et Filles (APELJFF), featured breakout sessions focusing on five strategic pillars: governance; peace and security; economic empowerment and innovation; social services and inclusion; and climate and energy.
The regional dialogues will continue in Tambacounda and Kédougou, gathering data and local input to inform Senegal’s YPS National Action Plan — envisioned as a blueprint for other ECOWAS member states.
Youth leaders, local officials, and civil society representatives, including WANEP, united in voicing strong support for the process, vowing to promote peacebuilding, social cohesion, and economic opportunity as antidotes to violence and marginalisation.
With the consultations underway, Senegal positions itself as a trailblazer in realising a youth-led vision of peace and security — a model ECOWAS hopes will ripple across West Africa.
