02/03/2026
Last February, l I had the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue at the 39th African Union Summit.
I had the privilege of participating as a panelist, presenting the perspectives of Congolese youth on Generation Z, governance, and peace in Africa, during a high-level event organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union Commission.
This space was essential to reposition Gen Z mobilizations not as security threats but as democratic early-warning signals and strategic opportunities to strengthen governance and peacebuilding across our continent.
I shared the stage with leaders who are reshaping African diplomacy, including:
• Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, who powerfully reminded us that Africa cannot progress without its youth, and that Gen Z’s demand for accountability is a legitimate democratic claim.
• H.E. Sofie From-Emmesberger, who emphasized that African youth are not the future of the continent they are its present.
• H.E. Lesego Chombo, whose journey embodies the transition “from protest to public policy,” demonstrating that youth inclusion in decision-making is possible when political will exists.
The perspectives shared by young leaders including Miharisoa Rakotondravelo (Madagascar), Gloria Wawira (Kenya), and the African Youth Ambassadors for Peace confirmed a clear reality that Gen Z mobilization is deeply rooted in demands for economic justice, transparency, and meaningful participation in decision-making processes that shape our societies.
During the intergenerational panel moderated by Gloria Kabage,alongside Arif Abdeljalil, and Ida Persson; I highlighted the work of women in peacebuilding and governance, particularly the efforts of Women in Peace and Governance in advancing democracy and governance in Eastern Congo, despite the severity of the ongoing crisis.
Meaningful youth participation must go beyond symbolic consultation to become a space of co-decision, accountability, and structured mentorship.
In the DRC, our National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security was born from youth-led advocacy. Yet the challenges remain: territorial implementation, sustainable financing, and translating political commitments into concrete local-level impact.
Generation Z is not waiting to be empowered. It is already acting.
The real challenge is to institutionalize this energy so that it transforms governance systems sustainably.
I remain deeply convinced that stability and peace in Africa will depend on our ability to move from symbolic inclusion to shared leadership.
As a young women leaders from conflict settings, we are not asking for permission to exist politically.
They are asking institutions to evolve to the level of their aspirations.
