An Egyptian member of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Focal Point Committee and Founder of the Global Solidarity Network, Hassan Ghazaly, has submitted the official outcomes of the 5th African Youth Symposium to the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Dada Morero, and APRM Chairperson, Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Vilakazi. The handover took place at the close of the two-day conference held at the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg.
The Symposium, themed “Youth in Governance: From Promise to Prosperity,” brought together senior African and international figures, including President of the Pan-African Parliament, Fortune Charumbira; Chairperson of the PAP Committee on Youth, Laila Daahi; Secretary-General of the African Youth Union, Ahmed Bennegh; and senior South African government officials. Former AU Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former Seychelles Vice President Vincent Meriton, and representatives of key regional organisations were also in attendance.
Across its plenary sessions, academic and political roundtables, youth-led exhibitions, and direct engagements with policymakers, the Symposium examined the role of young people in shaping the continent’s governance and development landscape. Discussions were organised around five core pillars: peace and security, Generation Z participation in governance, employment and development, youth policy alignment with Agenda 2063, and restorative justice.
Presenting the final recommendations, Ghazaly said African youth are determined to move “from promise to prosperity” through transparent and accountable leadership. He called for the review of the African Youth Charter as it marks 20 years and stressed that youth participation is essential to sustaining peace on the continent. He also appealed to African Union leaders to take urgent action in restoring security in Sudan, eastern DR Congo, the Sahel and other conflict-affected regions.
Ghazaly further warned of rising youth unemployment, skills mismatch, drug abuse and mental health challenges, urging governments to implement stronger employment policies, support entrepreneurship, and invest in science and technology-driven industrialisation. He also emphasized the need to operationalize AfCFTA and PAPSS and to adopt gender-responsive budgeting to advance women’s inclusion.
He concluded that achieving prosperity requires courage, innovation and collective action. “Prosperity is not a gift,” Ghazaly said, “but a product of leadership and accountable governance — the renewed pledge of the delegates of the 5th APRM Youth Symposium.”
