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I have been travelling during the last week and will be travelling until February 14. First, I was in Portugal for a meeting to review progress made with implementing the outcomes of the AU-EU Youth Summit. Right now, I am in another country on official mission. Its a long mission, so I have been looking-up websites and reflecting on Africa’s development and its future.
This is more so because part of my work is supporting the revitalised Pan African Youth Union to sort out all its administrative and technical issues. The other reason is the very worrying trend of events that have been taking place in Africa during the last year- the return of coup d’etats. First it was Mauritania, next it was Guinea, then another attempted coup in Guinea Bissau, the most recent is the political situation in Madagascar. In the past, the PYU which I am currently assisting was involved in supporting liberation efforts when it was PYM. In its current form, PYU’s objectives includes a provision for promoting and supporting democracy. But the question is whether today’s youth have the capacity to engage the political space. A colleague told me today that when the repression is from within, its more difficult to negotiate an exit.
I know I have started great efforts in the past. I am thinking that this is the time to mobilise around a strong political youth movement in Africa! How best this can be done remains the biggest dilema. There are many issues to be resolved, and many questions to be answered. Zimbabwe, Kenya and the recent bombing, Madagascar, Guinea, Mauritania, the challenge of post conflict countries. Many issues begging for attention! I am still thinking through this idea, and hope I can come-up with something positive, please contact me at dabesaki@gmail.com if you would like to share any ideas.
The youth MUST reclaim the political space in order to protect the future they seek to inherit.