The IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu says that the young people are particularly vulnerable to being mobilized into destructive occupations such as ethnic and politically motivated violence, criminal enterprises and radicalization into violent extremism.
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has asked
member states to address youth vulnerability amidst the high unemployment and
limited livelihood opportunities.
The IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu says young people are
particularly vulnerable to being mobilized into destructive occupations such as
ethnic and politically motivated violence, criminal enterprises and
radicalization.
He was speaking on Thursday at the launch of the IGAD Youth Forum for
Peace Agenda at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe to the
youths from IGAD member states of Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya,
South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan.
He says young people also drive social transformation and safeguard the
environment through various innovative methods and approaches, but on the other
hand, the potential of young people can be exploited to deliver negative
outcomes for peace and security.
“In the context of high levels of youth unemployment and limited
livelihood opportunities, young people are particularly vulnerable to being
mobilized into destructive occupations such as ethnic and politically-motivated
violence, criminal enterprises and radicalization into violent extremism.” He
says.
Gebeyehu says that the forum will provide a path for the youths to hold
dialogue, interact with decision-makers, and influence national policies that
have a direct bearing on the Peace, Security Stability and Development of our
region.
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Siraj Fegessa, the IGAD Peace and Security Division Director said that youths
can be frustrated by policies, but the key is peaceful ways of expressing one's
self.
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Magdi Ahmed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, the current chair of
IGAD says that the launch coincides with the second anniversary of the
revolution that brought down the previous Sudan regime.
He says youth were the backbone of this revolution, and there is a need for
youth in the IGAD region to be inspired by this revolution in many ways.
He says the youths need to invest in early warning and early signs of
conflicts.
“Our experience in South Sudan clearly shows that as conflicts
drag on, they become more complex, devastating, and difficult to solve. We need
our youths to give priority to the current conflicts in the member states” he
said.
On April 11, Sudan's President Omar
al-Bashir was ousted and arrested by the military after nearly 30 years in
power.
Nakiwala Kiwyingi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children's Affairs
hailed the Ugandan Government for prioritizing peace over all things, she says
that peace comes with opportunities, and member states should invest in sports,
music, dance and innovation which is key in peacebuilding.
Alex Otto
Freelancer