Youth and Elections in Africa Dialogue Series
For political systems to be truly representative, it must be inclusive of all people within the society. However, when the youth are disengaged from political processes, this represents a significant population that has little influence on key decisions that directly affect their lives. Despite making up the largest population in Africa, youth participation in policy and decision-making remains disproportionately low, especially where young people under the age of 35, constitute only 1.5% of parliamentarians across Africa. The key consequence is a political system that fails to reflect the needs and aspirations of its largest demographic. To make a difference in the longer term, it is essential that young people are engaged and given a platform in formulating today’s and tomorrow’s politics.
