Youth Participation in Democratic Processes in Francophone Africa

By Dr. Pippie Hugues

Introduction

Youth participation in democratic processes in Francophone Africa varies significantly across countries, influenced by socio-economic factors, political dynamics, and historical contexts (1). Here are some key aspects to consider, many Francophone African countries have histories of authoritarianism or single-party dominance, which can discourage youth engagement in formal political processes. High levels of unemployment and limited economic opportunities can lead young people to prioritize immediate survival over political engagement(2). Limited access to quality education and political information can hinder youth understanding of democratic processes and their ability to engage effectively. The younger population has always been a crucial group for political mobilization during elections in Africa. With the continent experiencing a significant increase in youth population, many of whom are struggling with unemployment and underemployment, winning the support of this demographic has become increasingly vital. Despite their large numbers and the significance of generational identities in the region’s history, there remains a lack of understanding regarding the political engagement of Africa’s youth(3). The media and digital platforms play a critical role in providing information about democratic values and election procedures, fostering safe spaces for young people to participate in the political process, and reducing calls for boycotting elections and using violence to keep young people away from disobedience. This paper examines the reason for youths reluctance to participate in democratic processes in Francophone Africa and the UN/global perspective. The paper ends with the role of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and policy recommendations.

Reasons for Youths Reluctance to Participate in Democratic Processes in Francophone Africa

Youth engagement in elections and democracy has been precarious in several countries. Planning for inclusive growth is hampered by the rise of populism and greater migration, which frequently cause xenophobia and socioeconomic divergence to rise (4). Moreover, the integrity of democratic institutions is threatened by corruption, state capture, backsliding, and inequality, all of which erode young people’s confidence in the sustainability and stability of democratic governance (5). Youth must be included in policy-making processes that aim to enhance political inclusion, accountability, inclusive representation, and transparency because they are an invaluable resource for governments’ development planning. It has been established that voter apathy is rampant within the youth of Francophone Africa who contributes to the majority of the regions population (6).

The United Nations Perspective

It is important to highlight that on 24 September 2018 the United Nations (UN) launched the 2030 Strategy and Global Partnership Initiative for Youth (7). This initiative is modeled after Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015), which encouraged Member States to include more young people in decision-making processes at all levels, and Resolution 2419 (2018), which emphasizes the importance of including more young people in the process of negotiating and carrying out peace agreements. The Strategy’s action plan consists of five priorities, the most pertinent of which is the fifth one to the Community-organized panel discussion: Building Peace and Resilience: Encourage youth to act as agents of peace, security, and humanitarianism. September 25, 2018, a panel discussion on “The Role of Youth in Democratic Resilience” was organized by the Community of Democracies (CoD) and took place outside the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The side session gave member states of the Governing Council (GC) a chance to discuss openly the difficulties facing youth engagement in democracies and potential coordinated responses to these difficulties. At the side event, young leaders from Romania, El Salvador, and Syria were among the panel speakers, along with high level members of the Community’s Governing Council. The panel covered frequent obstacles to youth civic involvement, the role that youth play in bolstering democracy, and effective strategies for raising youth political participation. These are issues which are of paramount importance within francophone Africa.

Francophone Africa’s Youth and Democratic Representation and The Global Perspective

A democracy cannot function properly without representation because representation enables representatives to fairly represent the interests of the people they represent and to implement laws and decisions that advance the goals of the group as a whole. On the other hand, when representation is not incorporated into democracy, legislators and other decision-makers make judgments based on presumptions and function without taking into consideration the plight of the populace, being utterly disconnected from the concerns of the underrepresented. Most decisions taken this way are not successful, since they reflect, not the needs of the many, but the assumptions of a single person, or a few people (8). To this effect, while genuine consultations might have been an enormous challenge within francophone African community, it has now been eased dramatically by digitalization as well as social media, which is where youths spend most of their time. Decision-makers and representatives could weight on the natural capacity of youth on the digital space to design and collect the youth’s views on issues that are of direct relevance, through youth-friendly digital platforms. These platforms could serve, not only to collect their voices, thereby ensuring representation, but also to educate youth on how a particular issue is of relevance to them(9).

In most Francophone African countries, women and youths are frequently disregarded when it comes to making decisions and participating in politics(10). Although the majority of people on the African continent are young, the elderly hold positions of leadership, and decisions are frequently made without taking the hopes and dreams of the younger generation into account (11). States institutions have a responsibility to teach the public, those in positions of authority, and young people the value of involvement. All humans are involved in politics because we must make decisions that affect both the society and ourselves. What is democratic process participation? Who is eligible to take part, and how should things proceed? We constantly ask ourselves these important issues within our societies.

The Role of Electoral Management Bodies in Promoting Youth Participation within Francophone Africa

Democracy is centered on elections. Therefore, ensuring youth inclusion in and contribution to the democratic process of which elections is an integral part requires adequate engagement in electoral processes. Encouraging youth participation on election day has been a primary goal for electoral management bodies (EMBs) for many years. Within the francophone Africa, EMBs have continously call out youths to get involve, but the response is very low due to voter apathy.

With one-third of the population between the ages of 15 and 35, Africa’s young population is rapidly growing(11). Youth also have a tendency to be disenfranchised from the democratic process. Young people continue to be underrepresented in electoral management roles, vote less frequently, and run for office less frequently. Therefore, it is essential that young people actively participate in the democratic processes taking place in their individual countries, rather than just getting involved(12). By this, they can better be abreast with leadership skills in order to take up the mantle in the nearest future. The position in Francophone Africa is not different from the rest of world. The number of youths involved in decision making process in Francophone Africa is below 30%(13). The decision making arm of most African governments is the legislative and the executive. In these two arms of the government, the youth representation is way below expectation as we can count the number of youths in parliament, both at the Lower and Upper Houses, we can equally count the number of youths occupying ministerial positions most of these countries.

Africa’s youth population is too big to be excluded from the democratic process. EMBs need to implement programs with multiple facets and begin considering more inventive ways to involve young people. In particular, EMBs should begin proactively interacting with young people as voters, candidates, and electoral administrators. This, in turn, requires EMBs to engage more effectively with key partners on youth-related issues. Political parties and civil society organizations are two particularly significant actors. Political parties’ control over the submission of electoral candidate lists continues to be a major impediment to youth engagement in decision-making organizations and elections. As a result, EMBs ought to think about encouraging inter-party discussion to develop more comprehensive understandings around the necessity of promoting young people running for office. Furthermore, EMBs are more likely to succeed in their efforts to encourage young people to vote if they collaborate with youth-led or youth-focused civil society organizations.

In order to encourage youth involvement in the administration of electoral processes, EMBs must also examine their own internal structures and regulations. Regional organizations and networks can provide a good platform for promoting the work carried out by EMBs in this field. Building on existing platforms of exchange, EMBs should be given the space to share experiences and explore new and innovative ways of engaging younger cohorts. Through the documentation of these exchanges and the development of resources, the results may serve as an important source of inspiration for other EMBs in Africa and beyond