Across West Africa, meaningful youth participation in peace and security remains constrained by deep structural and governance deficits. Despite constituting more than sixty per cent of the region’s population, young people continue to be treated as a security risk rather than as partners in stability. Governments frequently showcase youth in public dialogues, yet decision-making remains dominated by older political and traditional elites. This exclusion persists even as the region faces rising insecurity, from violent extremism in the Sahel to political unrest in coastal states disproportionately affecting young people who lack avenues to influence policy responses.
The consequences of this exclusion are increasingly visible. In Nigeria, youth frustration over governance failures erupted during the #EndSARS protests, revealing deep mistrust in state institutions. In Senegal, the 2021 and 2023 youth-led demonstrations reflected widespread anger over unemployment, corruption and political manipulation. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger illustrate the most severe outcomes: military coups partly fuelled by youth disillusionment with democratic processes that failed to deliver security or economic opportunity. In Ghana, youth unemployment remains above twenty-seven per cent and civic movements such as #FixTheCountry highlight growing impatience with symbolic engagement. These trends show a region where young people, educated, connected and politically aware, are increasingly alienated from formal governance systems, creating fertile ground for unrest, populism and extremist recruitment.
The price of exclusion: persistent challenges and systemic barriers
Despite the normative progress introduced by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015), a significant gap remains between policy commitment and practice. Many have argued that the exclusion of youth from peace and security decision-making is not simply a governance shortfall, but rather a structural driver of instability. Evidence from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) highlights correlation between declining levels of peacefulness and youth exclusion. This is reflected in the Global Peace Index (2025), which shows worsening peace indicators across several West African states including Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana. These trends suggest that exclusion contributes to a heightened risk of radicalisation, deepens socio-economic grievances, weakens state legitimacy and undermines long-term stability. Conversely, inclusive governance is associated with improved trust, reduced violence and more resilient societies.
Despite growing recognition of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, meaningful participation remains limited by institutional and socio-cultural barriers. Frequently narratives depicting youth are either as a ‘security risk’ or passive beneficiaries, undermining their credibility as contributors to decision-making processes. As a result, engagement is often reduced to consultation processes that validate pre-determined agendas rather than enable genuine co-creation. While youth visibility in forums has increased, this has not translated into proportional influence. Decision-making power remains concentrated among established elites, creating a persistent gap between presence and authority. Socio-cultural norms and structural constraints further restrict participation. Hierarchies that privilege age limit the recognition of youth as legitimate stakeholders, while unequal access to education, resources and networks, especially for young women and marginalised groups, reduces their ability to engage effectively. These challenges are intensified by an evolving threat landscape, including cyber insecurity, mental health pressures and gender-based violence, which disproportionately affect young people and are often inadequately addressed in policy responses. These dynamics highlight a central problem. Youth exclusion weakens both the effectiveness and legitimacy of peace and security systems. Addressing this requires moving beyond symbolic inclusion toward structural reforms that institutionalise youth participation, redistribute decision-making power and integrate youth perspectives into the core of governance.
Youth, governance and the political economy of insecurity
A deeper look at West Africa’s insecurity reveals that youth exclusion is not only a governance issue but also a political economy problem. In many states, political elites benefit directly or indirectly from maintaining systems that limit youth influence. Patronage networks, gerontocratic leadership structures and centralised political authority create incentives to keep young people on the margins of decision-making processes.
a. Youth as political foot soldiers, not policymakers
Across the region, youth are mobilised during elections as campaigners, to create crowds and sometimes as instruments of political intimidation. Yet once elections are over, they are side-lined from governance processes. This reinforces a cycle where youth are valued for their numbers and energy, but not for their ideas or leadership potential.
b. Economic exclusion as a tool of control
High youth unemployment is not only a development challenge, it is a political vulnerability. In contexts where economic opportunities are scarce, young people become dependent on political patrons for survival. This dependency weakens their bargaining power and limits their ability to demand accountability or structural reforms.
c. Insecurity as a marketplace
In parts of the Sahel, insecurity has created parallel economies through arms trafficking, artisanal mining and smuggling that attracts marginalised youth. Extremist groups exploit governance failures by offering income, identity and belonging. Without meaningful inclusion, young people become vulnerable to recruitment not because of ideology, but because of economic necessity and social alienation.
d. Digital spaces as new arenas of youth power
While formal governance structures exclude youth, digital platforms have become alternative spaces for political expression and mobilisation. Movements like #EndSARS, #FixTheCountry and Senegal’s youth-led protests demonstrate how young people are reshaping political discourse. However, governments often respond with internet shutdowns, surveillance or restrictive cyber laws, further deepening mistrust.
e. The cost of ignoring youth expertise
Many young people possess critical skills in technology, data analysis, digital security and climate adaptation, areas central to modern peace and security. Yet these competencies remain underutilised in national and regional strategies. The failure to integrate youth expertise is a missed opportunity for innovation in governance and conflict prevention.
Coordinated pathways to meaningful youth inclusion
Addressing structural barriers to youth inclusion requires an integrated approach that connects security, economic opportunity and institutional coordination. Efforts must go beyond isolated national initiatives and be anchored in regional frameworks that promote coherence and accountability. Regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have a key role in standardising approaches, particularly through the development of context-sensitive indicators that measure not just the number of young people involved, but the quality and depth of their participation. Such frameworks would strengthen monitoring, enable cross-country learning and support a more coordinated advancement of the YPS agenda.
Addressing structural barriers to youth inclusion requires an integrated approach that connects security, economic opportunity and institutional coordination. Efforts must go beyond isolated national initiatives and be anchored in regional frameworks that promote coherence and accountability
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At the same time, economic marginalisation remains a major constraint to meaningful youth engagement. High unemployment limits sustained participation, making it essential to integrate livelihood support into peacebuilding efforts. Evidence shows that combining economic empowerment with peace education strengthens resilience and reduces vulnerability to violence. Equally, progress depends on moving from participation to ownership where young people are entrusted with leadership roles and decision-making power. Experiences from countries like Uganda highlight how youth-led initiatives and targeted support in post-conflict settings can transform young people into credible peace actors. Ultimately, meaningful inclusion requires building capacity, ensuring economic security and creating clear pathways for youth leadership within coordinated systems.
ECOWAS as a regional anchor for youth-inclusive peace and security
ECOWAS is uniquely positioned to support member states in institutionalising meaningful youth participation by setting regional norms, strengthening accountability and providing targeted technical assistance. Through frameworks such as the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, the organisation can establish minimum standards for youth representation, develop indicators that assess the depth and quality of youth engagement and integrate these metrics into its early warning and governance monitoring systems. ECOWAS can also help member states design and implement national YPS strategies, build the capacity of government institutions and youth networks and facilitate cross-border platforms that enable young people to collaborate on peacebuilding and early warning initiatives. By coordinating donor support and mobilising resources for youth-led programmes, ECOWAS can reduce the chronic underfunding that limits youth participation. Ultimately, by harmonising national efforts and ensuring consistent monitoring, ECOWAS can transform youth inclusion from an optional political gesture into a regional standard that strengthens democratic resilience and collective security across West Africa.
Conclusion
One of the clearest messages from the inaugural Youth Voices for Peace webinar is that West Africa’s stability is closely tied to meaningful youth involvement. Evidence from the Global Peace Index shows that youth exclusion is not just a social gap but a driver of instability and institutional fragility. In contrast, examples, such as The Gambia, demonstrate that when youth inclusion is backed by deliberate policies and strong institutions, it leads to tangible improvements in peace and social cohesion. Advancing the YPS agenda therefore requires moving beyond consultation towards sustained, institutionalised collaboration with young people. This means challenging persistent stereotypes that frame youth as a risk instead of recognising them as essential partners in building resilient societies. Strengthening accountability, expanding responses to evolving security challenges, integrating economic opportunities and embedding youth in decision-making processes are all critical steps. Ultimately, peace cannot be delivered to young people; it must be built with them. Bridging the gap between policy commitments and lived realities demands a shift from dialogue to action through coordinated, inclusive and accountable approaches that empower youth to shape lasting peace and stability.
Ultimately, peace cannot be delivered to young people; it must be built with them. Bridging the gap between policy commitments and lived realities demands a shift from dialogue to action through coordinated, inclusive and accountable approaches that empower youth to shape lasting peace and stability
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Portia Danlugu is a programme officer at the Women Youth Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) at the esteemed Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) located in Accra, Ghana.
