Africa’s Youth Unite: Oran Summit Sets the Stage for a Brighter Future

In Oran, between November 1 and 4, 2024, young people from the African continent, invited by the African Union, will try to ensure that their voices are heard and define their priorities in accordance with the 2063 agenda of the regional organization.

Almost 500 young people from all over the African continent came to participate in this fourth edition of the Pan-African Youth Forum organized by the African Union. Until November 4, 2024, they will discuss issues related to the future of young people on the continent in the coastal city of Oran in Algeria.

Preparing young Africans for the future

Placed under the theme “Educating Africa fit for the 21st century”a theme that resonates with the “1 Million Next Level” initiative and converges towards the central theme of the year 2024, the forum focuses on the future of young Africans. In the opening ceremony, Friday November 1, date also marks the Revolution Day commemoration of the beginning of the war of national freedom against the French colonization, the main ewyUys of this continental meeting was laid out.

“In a world dominated by technology, digitization and interconnected economies, we must prioritize the need to prepare young people to be competitive, flexible and ready to seize opportunities. They must also be equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century with confidence,” said Belhocine Mohamed, African Union Commissioner responsible for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, speaking on behalf of the President of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. For him, the current forum must be a platform for young people and leaders of the African Union to update the African Youth Charter so that it responds to the current issues facing the continent and especially its youth. “It is essential to update the Charter to reflect the current reality, from the rise in digitization and artificial intelligence to climate change and other global phenomena that shape Africa’s future,” he declared.

In her address, Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya, director of the African Union’s Women, Gender and Youth department, recalled the need to put young Africans at the heart of the continent’s and the world’s future challenges. “By 2050, it is estimated that one in two young people in the world will be African”she remembers. Before launching to the participants: “You are therefore not only the hope and wealth of Africa, but the whole world”. A call to which the Ambassador of the President of the African Union Youth Commission responded in a pragmatic manner, registering the participation of African youth in redefining a new global paradigm in the present. “We are not waiting for the future; We shape it with every step we take today. Our vision for Africa should be one of unity, equity and opportunity, a vision that welcomes and empowers every young voice,” said Chido Cleopatra Mpemba.

Various and varied priorities

If almost all of the young people present at the forum share concerns about the five key pillars of youth empowerment and development within the framework of the “1 Million from the Next Level” initiative, namely education, employment, entrepreneurship, engagement and health and wellbeing, most of them will also be looking forward to networking with other young people. They are excited to share their experiences, learn from other young people and broaden their horizons in terms of future prospects.

However, some young people raise other priorities that are not necessarily on the agenda of the forum but are related to the political situation in their own countries. This is the case of Mariam, a member of the Malian delegation. The young woman intends to take advantage of the opportunity at this meeting to question the fate of young Malians who could be punished by suspending Mali from the African Union due to the military regime that is in place in the country. The same concern for Laurent, who is originally from Gabon, this country is also suspended by the regional organization since the military coup on August 23, 2023 that overthrew the former president Ali Bongo.