Burundi is hosting the fifth Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Africa, a three-day summit in Bujumbura focused on empowering women and young people within conflict prevention and peacebuilding frameworks across the continent.
Inaugurated on Monday, August 10, 2026, the forum is co-organized by the Burundian government, the African Union (AU), and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), bringing together delegates from regional bodies, youth advocacy groups, and civil society organizations.
A central objective of the gathering is shifting the institutional perception of young Africans from passive beneficiaries of aid to active leaders in mediation, dialogue, and post-conflict reconstruction. Delegates are advocating for institutionalized channels that ensure youth and women possess a direct voice in shaping continental security policies. Convening against a backdrop of persistent political instability and armed conflict across several African regions, the summit seeks to establish concrete frameworks to counter radicalization, foster social cohesion, and produce actionable recommendations to embed inclusive participation into regional governance structures.