The Economic Community of West African States Commission reaffirmed its commitment to advancing youth leadership in democratic governance during the inaugural West Africa Youth Conference on Democracy, held in Dakar from September 8 to 10, 2026.
Organized by the ECOWAS Directorate of Political Affairs in partnership with civil society group LEGIS360, the regional summit convened young leaders, public institutions, and governance stakeholders under the theme “From Activism to Power: Rethinking Youth Political Inclusion in West Africa and Advancing a Regional Agenda for Democratic Governance.” The high-level dialogue focused on evaluating progress toward political inclusion, identifying systemic barriers, and drafting evidence-based policy reforms to transition young citizens from grassroots activism into formal decision-making bodies.
The conference aligns with wider ECOWAS initiatives aimed at addressing the persistent underrepresentation of youth and young women in parliament, local government, and executive bodies across member states. Building on previous regional engagements in Accra and expert panels convened earlier this year to target comprehensive political leadership frameworks by 2035, the commission continues to advocate for binding legal reforms and model legislation. Organizers emphasized that institutionalizing youth participation in policy design, implementation, and evaluation remains essential to safeguarding democratic stability and driving inclusive socio-economic development throughout West Africa.
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