Continental Youth Leadership Training strengthens African youth voices in transitional justice and peacebuilding
From 10–12 September 2025, the African Union (AU) Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), in collaboration with the Transitional Justice Unit of the AU and the Network of Think-Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace), and in partnership with the IJR, convened a three-day Continental Youth Leadership Training on Transitional Justice, Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in Africa in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The training gathered young leaders from across the continent to engage with lessons from South Africa’s transitional justice journey while building skills and networks to strengthen youth-led peace initiatives. Participants interrogated the effects of apartheid, racial discrimination, and gender exclusion, while exploring pressing themes such as combating hate ideologies, advancing reconciliation, and promoting peacebuilding across Africa.
Day One: Foundations and Reflections
The training opened with a candle-lighting by IJR’s Communication Officer, Ms Kesia Abrahams, accompanied by an excerpt from Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise. This was followed by a centering exercise led by IJR’s Head of Sustained Dialogues, Ms Felicity Harrison, setting a reflective and participatory tone.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Akok Madut Manyuat, Head of the AU’s Mediation and Dialogue Division, encouraged participants to embrace lessons rooted in African identities:
“It is these lessons, born in Africa, inspired by African identities, that we hope you, the youth, will carry forward…Transitional justice is not just about addressing the wounds of the past but ensuring the future.”
Opening remarks were delivered by IJR’s Executive Director, Professor Cheryl Hendricks, alongside Ms Mapeete Kouame, Deputy Director of Foreign Services at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Both highlighted the importance of transitional justice in Africa’s peace and security agenda and emphasised the critical role of youth in shaping a more inclusive and peaceful continent.
Sessions on the AU Transitional Justice Policy, facilitated by Mr Usani Odum (Africa Youth for Transitional Justice, D-PAPS), and on peacebuilding, led by IJR’s Head of Peacebuilding Interventions, Prof Tim Murithi, challenged participants to rethink approaches to justice and reconciliation. Murithi encouraged participants to dismantle narrow, state-centred perspectives, stressing the urgency of innovative approaches.
The day concluded with a plenary discussion on the role of youth and women in the transitional justice agenda, facilitated by Prof Hendricks and Ms Gloria Kabage (FemWise-Africa, WiseYouth, Youth4Peace), reminding participants that their contributions are not peripheral but central to Africa’s future.
Day Two: Learning from African Experiences
Day Two began with participants sharing reflections from the previous day, facilitated by IJR’s Project Leader for the Data for Governance Alliance, Mr Nyasha Mpani.
A cross-country panel followed, where participants from Liberia, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique shared their experiences of transitional justice and reconciliation, moderated by Mr Odum. The panel underscored how youth are already leading and supporting peace initiatives, despite significant challenges.
The day also addressed urgent contemporary threats. Ms Thandi Smith from Media Monitoring Africa led a session on combating hate speech, genocidal ideologies, misinformation, and disinformation, stressing the responsibility of youth to counter harmful narratives. Later, Mr David Kabwa from UNITE2030 explored how digital tools, including media and AI, can amplify youth voices and strengthen peace efforts.
Prof Hendricks and Ms Harrison closed the day with an interactive session on dialogue, trust-building, and social cohesion, which culminated in action plans for strengthening continental youth networks. Participants received certificates from Prof Hendricks and Ambassador Manyuat, recognising their commitment and potential to lead Africa’s peace and reconciliation agenda.
Day Three: Lessons from South Africa’s History
The final day shifted from theory to practice with a study tour to Constitutional Hill, the Hector Pietersen Museum, and the Apartheid Museum. These sites offered powerful, lived lessons on South Africa’s transitional justice journey and its continuing legacies. For many participants, the tours deepened reflections on how Africa’s painful past can inspire youth to shape a future defined by justice, resilience, and peace.
Over three days, the training created a vibrant space for African youth to learn, reflect, and collaborate. It reinforced that young leaders are not only the future custodians of peace but vital actors in today’s struggles for justice and reconciliation. The training was more than an exchange of knowledge, it was a reminder that the continent’s healing and transformation depend on the courage, creativity, and leadership of its youth.
Participant Reflections