As part of efforts to popularise the regional and continental framework on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) through interministerial consultations, COMESA Secretariat organised the 4th High-Level Ministerial Conference in Antananarivo, Madagascar from 3 – 6 December 2024, targeting the Island States.
The conference held in conjunction with the Government of Madagascar and partners, aimed at enhancing youth involvement in the peace and security agenda and emphasizing the role of Governments, the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) in the promotion of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda. About 115 participants, including youth representatives from Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros participated in the conference.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony, the Director General of Youth at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Madagascar Madame Arlette Rahajarijaona said African youth are the artisans of peace and thus, it is crucial to support them through implementing the Continental Framework.
“Mutual interaction is the soundest route to societal harmony. Madagascar is committed to playing a leading role in promoting the rights of youth and ensuring opportunities for them,” She added.
The conference’s focus on the Island States region provided an opportunity for geographically-specific vulnerabilities – such as maritime insecurity – to be explored. Opportunities such as the blue economy, which holds the key to unlocking jobs for the region’s youth, were also discussed.
Additionally, the Conference served as a platform for the advancement of meaningful youth engagement – which is vital having youths serve as decision-makers and not mere spectators, and further highlighted the need to accord significant attention and resources to the YPS Agenda, which exists within a challenging peace and security landscape.
The conference agreed that due to the region’s significantly large youth demographic and the serious repercussions that the lack of YPS implementation can spell for the region’s political, economic, social and maritime security, mobilising youths as engines of change and building partnerships between Governments and RECs/RMs is imperative.
After three days of deliberations, Madagascar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Rasata Rafaravavitafika officially closed the conference and highlighted the need to create and strengthen National Youth Councils, as well as strategic partnerships with regional organisations such as COMESA and the African Union.
“The voices of young people must be heard, valued and translated into concrete actions,” she said.
To this effect, the conference produced several commitments and a Call to Action which included the need to develop a centralised data collection centre and joint registry on maritime offenses for the Island States.
This Conference underscored COMESA’s commitment to empowering youth in the region, in order to achieve the broader goals of attaining sustainable peace, security and development across the region.