BUJUMBURA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye on Thursday urged young Africans to contribute to socio-economic development and peacebuilding in their countries so as to build a better future for the continent.
He made the appeal at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security in Bujumbura, the economic capital of Burundi.
In response to the various internal conflicts plaguing some African countries, Ndayishimiye, the champion of the African Union for the promotion of the "Youth, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa" programme, urged African youths to prioritize dialogue and seek the root causes of these conflicts.
"It is dialogue that ultimately brings peace and a lasting solution. It is therefore better to begin with dialogue than use it as a last resort," he said, citing Burundi's own experience, where a protracted crisis was resolved through dialogue.
Moumouni Dialla, president of the Pan-African Youth Union, also stressed the role of youth in building a peaceful Africa. "Nothing great can be built without peace and security," he noted.
During the meeting, speakers highlighted the leading role played by the youth in consolidating peace, pointing to their marginalization in the decision-making process.
Sghair Said, AU high representative for the Great Lakes Region, expressed the community's commitment to continuing to place youth, peace and security issues at the heart of its priorities.
The two-day meeting is organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Burundian government. It was held against the backdrop of crises in parts of Africa, including the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the risk of spreading throughout the Great Lakes region. ■