Young people are generally vulnerable to radicalisation by extremist groups, but experts say the young people, especially in Africa, are hardly invited to the dialogue table where peace processes are being discussed. Some young African scholars want to change the narrative.
Drawn from over 20 countries on the continent, the students of the Pan African University Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS), the African Union’s premiere institution of higher learning, have taken part in a strategic discussion on how to promote a culture of peace on the continent.
Hosted by PAUGHSS in collaboration with Civic Watch, implementing organisation of the #defyhatenow initiative in Cameroon, the two-day strategic discussion on “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” in Cameroon and across Africa held at the campus of the University of Yaounde II, Soa on the outskirts of the Cameroon capital from November 28 to 29. It was organised as part of activities to mark the UN International Day of Peace, albeit belatedly. The day is observed globally on September 21 of each year.
Organisers of the two-day gathering said this year’s theme, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” matches their institutions’ mutual objectives of fostering peace, unity, and understanding amongst the people in Cameroon and Africa, and is also a powerful reminder that for peace to be possible, everyone must play a part.
Desmond Ngala, Founder of Civic Watch and #defyhatenow Country Project Manager for Cameroon said conflicts affect young people on a daily basis and there is need that the age group be brought to the dialogue table to discuss peace processes. By organising the two-day discussion, with varsity dons, experts and the young African scholars, he said, they want to get expertise “but also experiences from different countries across Africa”.
“I must tell you that more and more, young people are not invited to the dialogue table as far as questions of peace are concerned. By organizing this strategic discussion, we are also pushing out the highest call—let’s bring young people to the table”, said Ngala.
New threats require new reforms
In his inaugural lecture, Prof Joseph Vincent Ntuda Ebode, Director of the Center of Research for Political and Strategic Studies of the University of Yaounde II said at the end of the Cold War, the African Union put in place a Peace and Security mechanism to prevent conflicts and ensure stability of countries across the continent. However, the emergence of new threats that were inexistent at the time the instrument was put in place require new reforms at the level of the continental body.
“For example, the AU peace and security mechanism focused on combatting inter-tribal conflicts within countries. By the time it was established, terrorism was not a general threat as it is today. This new threat cannot be managed like inter-tribal conflicts. So, to solve the problem of terrorism for example, we need a new reform at the level of the AU that will put in place forces to fight it,” said Prof Ntuda Ebode who is an expert in International Security and Defense.
Diverse cultures, one objective
In order to promote peace across countries of the continent today, it is undeniable that young people must be taught values such as dialogue, diversity and social cohesion, according to Dr Biloa, PAUGHSS Deputy Director. He said during the two-day discussion, they were going to imbibe in the young scholars the idea that the values will lay the foundation for the construction of Africa and the development of African countries.
“The two-day discussion has brought together young people from different regions of Africa—with diverse cultures, but with one objective—cultivate a culture of peace across the continent,” said Dr Biloa.
Like the other speakers, Prof Arrey William Herman of the Protestant University of Central Africa said it important include all segments of the population in peacebuilding processes for as he puts it: “any peace built for the people without the people is peace built against the people”.
Besides masterclasses and panel discussions with experts from UN agencies, development partners, diplomatic corps, government, and academia, the young scholars also shared experiences of what peace means to them.
