On 11 November 2025 ACCORD partnered with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) to host a side event commemorating the 10th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). Forming part of the African Peer Review Mechanism’s (APRM) 5th Youth Symposium on youth participation in governance, the side event was held at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
Young peace and security professionals from Madagascar, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) participated in the two-hour panel discussion to examine the practical effects and implementation issues of UNSC Resolution 2250 over the previous ten years. Mr. Arif Abdeljalil, the African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAP); Northern Africa, was the keynote speaker on the panel, which was moderated by Ms. Oumou Warr of the OIF.
The distinction between negative and positive peace, the importance of linguistic inclusion for Francophone African states, the effectiveness of the DRC’s National Action Plan (NAP) in incorporating youth voices into peace and security decision-making, and the dual function of social media as a potential tool for peacebuilding as well as a possible catalyst for conflict were just some of the important topics that emerged from the discussion.
Participants in the interactive Q&A session raised urgent concerns regarding gender-based violence, the weaponisation of rape in warfare, foreign intervention in resource-rich conflict zones, and the need for increased trust in youth capacities. Finally, Mr. Abdeljalil reiterated his dedication to elevating the voices of young people within the AU, pointing out that they continue to be disproportionately impacted by conflict and must play a key role in efforts to promote peace.
Ultimately, the side event successfully allowed for youth peacebuilders to exchange experiences and find replicable best practices. ACCORD continues to support youth-led peace and security initiatives in alignment with UNSC Resolution 2250 and the AU Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security.
