The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
executive secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu has called on youths in the region to be
the voice of peace.
Speaking during the opening of the IGAD Youth Peace and
Security Conference in Nairobi, Gebeyehu said that there can be no peace
without young people.
He stated that it is time for the active involvement of young
people as partners in finding peace in the country.
“There is no peace without the youth, and there’s no youth without peace. The age of youth as passive beneficiaries is over. The age of
youth as partners in peace has begun,” he said.
The Executive Secretary went on to urge representatives of
the youth to use their capabilities to preserve and protect the interests of young
people in the region.
He cited the case of Sudan, where there is an ongoing conflict
that has brought about a lot of suffering to the people.
He, however, noted that as much as IGAD works to ensure peace
is restored, the involvement of Sudanese youths is critical
“Silence will not help. We have to be the voice of the
Sudanese people; this can happen to any country.
“As IGAD, we are working in soft and hard power and anything
we can do to bring back peace and tranquillity in the region. I urge you to be peace
ambassadors.”
Gebeyehu further noted that through the Conflict Early Warning
and Response Mechanism (CEWARN), the authority has empowered young people to
become the eyes and ears of peace in their communities.
He said CEWARN's early warning systems have demonstrated
that when youth are equipped with the right tools and trusted with
responsibility, they become the most effective peacekeepers.
“From the bustling markets of Addis Ababa to the remote
villages along the Sudan-South Sudan border, young peace monitors are providing
real-time intelligence that prevents conflicts before they ignite,” he said.
He added that IGAD’s achievements in countering violent
extremism through the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering
Violent Extremism stand as a testament to what is possible when trust is
placed in the youth.
Since its establishment in 2018, the centre has trained over
500 young community leaders in counter-messaging techniques, alternative
narrative development, and community resilience building.
“These young champions are not just recipients of our
programs; they are the architects of innovative solutions.”
Margaret Kiogora, CEO, President’s Award, who represented the Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet secretary Salim Mvurya, added that youth have
evolved to become drivers of peace in the region.
She noted that a lack of peace leads to a lack of development and
jobs, but when fully supported, young people can bring lasting peace.
“Youths are not just recipients of peace but drivers of it
and development. Without peace, there is no development, no jobs, but when young
people are supported, they create lasting peace,” Kiogora said.
The IGAD region is home to one of the youngest populations
in the world, with youth under the age of 30 constituting over 60% of the total
population.
