Tigray Youth demand “Real Peace” as a precondition for Youth Development and Growth

In the past 6 monthsYubuntu Youth Peace Building Alliance and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) have organized several Youth Side Dialogues on National Dialogue in Tigray. Representatives of over 100 youth organizations from different cities and regions in Tigray participated in these dialogues in Mekelle, Axum and Adigrat. The Side Dialogues served as a vital platform for young voices on social, economic and political challenges of young people in Tigray. They also aimed at raising awareness about National Dialogue initiatives and asked for the young people’s contributions. In addition, the dialogues empowered participants to engage and identify key issues relevant for National Dialogue. Youth’s agendas were drawn from the youth dialogues held in Mekelle and Axum and Adigrat and finally shared with National Dialogue Commission, namely Commissioner Belain Gebremedhin in Addis Ababa.

In their agendas the young people stressed the need of “real peace” in Tigray as a precondition for the development and growth of young people but also as a need for the country.

Here you can find their agendas in detail:

• Complete Implementation of the Pretoria Agreement: Participants stressed the need for the full execution of the Pretoria Agreement, which includes restoring the region’s territorial integrity (return of IDPs) and establishing lasting peace and security. This is vital for the region’s stability and future development and for peace in the region. For young people a peaceful context is needed to go back to a normal life with economic engagements and a perspective for the future - different from the current desperate situation which just leads to migration, frustration and crime.

• Youth Economic Empowerment and Reparations: Economic empowerment is essential for the youth, focusing on creating opportunities for growth and self-sufficiency. The call for reparations emphasizes the need to address past injustices and create an environment where youth can flourish economically.

• Trauma Healing through Mental Health, Justice, and Accountability: Many young people and especially young women have severely suffered from the war. Therefore, it is necessary to provide mental health support, ensure justice for those affected, and hold those accountable responsible for the conflict.

• Good Governance: The call for good governance reflects a desire for transparent, accountable, and responsive leadership. This is essential for building trust between the citizens and the government, including possibilities of participation of young people.

• Emergency Humanitarian Support: addressing the urgent needs of the population affected by conflict and displacement. This includes food and medical supply but also the restauration of infrastructure like schools.

• Equal Representation and Recognition of Tigrayans at the Federation Level: Tigrayans currently lack representation at the federation level and are not treated equally compared to other regions and citizens. The Tigray region and its people seek recognition as part of the federation and equal rights before addressing other issues. In a context like this also political participation of the young would be possible.