AFRICAN UNION PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
COMMUNIQUÉ
5th Youth Model African Union Summit
AU Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Topic:
The Role of Youth in Enhancing Restorative Justice in Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Peacebuilding in Africa

Sponsors:
The Republic of The Gambia, Angola

Signatories:
Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Uganda, Algeria, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Botswana

PREAMBLE

We, Members of the African Union Peace and Security Council, are:

Determined to:

Promote peaceful relations and effectively mediate conflicts among Member States; ensure meaningful participation of youth in truth-telling processes, reconciliation dialogues, community memorialisation, and peace education.

Keeping in mind:

The principles enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act, particularly Article 4(h) on continental solidarity, collective security, and shared responsibility; the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (2019), which emphasizes the central role of youth, the prioritization of victims and affected communities in restorative justice, and the pursuit of truth to ensure national healing; respect for the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the “Silencing the Guns in Africa” initiative; the obligations under the African Youth Charter (2006), recognizing the active participation and rights of African youth in peace and security processes; as well as AU Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace and security.

Reaffirming:

The participation of youth in peace-making efforts; Africa’s responsibility to lead its own peace and security agenda while engaging international partners in ways that respect African priorities and solutions; that youth, women, and civil society are essential partners in peacebuilding and sustaining social cohesion; and the importance of meaningful participation in peace education.

Recognising:

The significant role young people play during conflict and in post-conflict recovery across Africa; that lasting peace and security can only be achieved by addressing root causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, weak governance, and the marginalization of youth and women; and that with more than 60 percent of Africa’s population under the age of 25, youth are central to achieving sustainable peace, justice, and reconstruction across the continent.

Acknowledging:

The importance of restorative justice, community healing, truth-telling, reparative measures, forgiveness, and reconciliation in rebuilding trust and repairing social fabric after conflict.

Further reaffirming:

The need for community-driven justice mechanisms, including traditional courts, cultural reconciliation practices, and local leadership structures that meaningfully involve youth.

COUNCIL OBSERVATIONS

The Council observes that youth potential in restorative justice remains underutilised in post-conflict reconstruction, despite demonstrated capacity to rebuild trust, restore dignity, and promote healing among affected communities and civil society. Victim-centered approaches continue to lack inclusive representation of groups affected due to historical knowledge gaps.

The Council further notes growing concern regarding the vulnerability of Generation Z within Africa’s peace and security landscape, particularly in relation to misinformation, digital manipulation, and marginalisation.

There is an absence of a continental and unified understanding of peace and security compliance, resulting in fragmented peacebuilding strategies. Persistent state fragility, historical grievances, and contested national narratives continue to undermine stability. Proposed mechanisms for resolving internal or national conflicts through neighbouring states are often unviable due to strained relations or direct conflicts.

The Council expresses concern over the insufficient inclusion of women, girls, and minority groups in restorative justice and reparation efforts. While frameworks and hearings exist in several Member States, implementation efforts require strengthening.

COUNCIL DECISIONS

Continental Scoreboard

The Council proposes the establishment of a Continental Scoreboard with quantitative and qualitative indicators, presented annually, to monitor and evaluate youth-led transitional justice efforts. This framework will enhance transparency, track actions taken by Member States, and facilitate shared learning across the continent.

The Council reaffirms that meaningful youth participation is essential to strengthening peace and security in Africa. Member States are encouraged to integrate youth as partners and leaders across all stages of peacebuilding processes, including reparations, reconciliation, community recovery, and early-warning mechanisms. The Council further decides to enhance coordination among national institutions, youth networks, and regional bodies to ensure youth contribute directly to conflict prevention, addressing root causes of instability, and sustaining long-term peace. Member States are urged to allocate adequate resources and establish national frameworks supporting youth-led initiatives as a cornerstone of the African peace and security architecture.

Strengthen African-Led Conflict Prevention Mechanisms

Enhance early warning systems through the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) to identify emerging conflicts before escalation.
Expand data collection, conflict monitoring, and rapid response teams across Member States.

Address Root Causes of Conflict

Invest in development, good governance, and social cohesion programs targeting marginalized communities.
Support AU-backed programs promoting access to education, job creation, and local dispute resolution mechanisms.

Impact:
Reduction of conflict drivers such as poverty, inequality, and political exclusion.

Enhance Accountability and Monitoring

Establish mechanisms to track implementation of peace agreements and security measures.
Ensure regular AU Council reporting on Member States’ progress in conflict resolution and human rights protection.

Impact:
Improved transparency, strengthened trust, and adaptive peacebuilding strategies.

De-escalation Measures and Risk Assessment

Strengthen historical data documentation, as unacknowledged devastation often reignites conflict due to unresolved injustices. Establish a historical data hub at national levels to centralise documentation and analysis.

Enhance conflict early-warning systems through youth-led grassroots initiatives that monitor and report emerging tensions, enabling timely community-based conflict de-escalation.