I remember while in Bamenda and some time in 2017, the internet shutdown didn’t just cut our fiber; it severed our lifeline to the world. As our organization was gaining momentum, the digital darkness descended, lasting for months. Then came COVID-19, creating a perfect storm of isolation. While global peers transitioned to virtual classrooms and remote advocacy, we were trapped in a double lockdown – physical and digital. I watched helplessly as hard won international partnerships dissolved and educational milestones slipped away because my IP address was essentially blacklisted by geography and state policy.  

Empowering Youth: The Role of Digital Participation

As the Founder of United Youths Organization (UYO) and a youth activist, I’ve seen how Cameroon’s shrinking digital space silences our youth especially with limited internet access and suppression of digital rights hindering meaningful youth participation in democratic processes. The initiative dubbed “Youth Engagement in Democratic Processes in Cameroon”, under the Digitalise Youth project, is our intentional response to reclaim that voice. Operating in crisis-affected regions such as the North West, South West and Far North regions, we have remained focused on bridging the gap between the ruling elite and the youth. A cornerstone of our work is the organisation of an Inclusive National Youth Advocacy Conference during which we drafted a formal advocacy paper to push the government toward digital inclusion. Meanwhile, our #YouthVoiceNaPowa campaign is aimed at promoting digital democracy while countering information disorder that fuels conflict and enhancing online security. 

During the  advocacy dialogue held in the Far North region, we explored  how digital technology will influence change before, during and after the presidential elections. Since then, we witnessed young activists using platforms such as Whatsapp, Telegram and Tiktok to bypass state aligned media and create viral campaigns which targeted millions of voters. This created a transparent digital trail that made traditional electoral fraud significantly harder to conceal. We trained youth on AI-driven fact-checking tools to debunk disinformation and deepfakes and witnessed youth activists making use of these during the presidential elections in 2025. This digital surge turned smartphones into shields of democracy, amplifying voices of young Cameroonians, especially those in the hard-to-reach and crisis regions. Our advocacy at UYO transformed mobile phones into tools for accountability. 

Youth Voice: Digital Rights, Heart Beat for Democracy 

For me digital rights are the heartbeat of modern Cameroonian democracy. We still carry the scars of 2017, 230-day internet blackout in the Anglophone regions, a period where civic participation was forcibly silenced, and the youth were cut off from the global stage. 

While the North West and South West regions were plunged into digital darkness, we didn’t wait for the fiber to be reconnected. Myself, together with some tech youth, built a localized mesh network using repurposed routers in a hidden basement in Bamenda. We transformed victims of the shutdown into human servers, we didn’t just talk about rights; we engineered a way to exercise them when the state tried to delete us. We proved that even in total darkness, you can’t switch off a community that’s determined to be heard. 

We must mobilize the next generation and move beyond traditional activism into a more resilient, narrative-driven strategy. Freedom cannot be leased from a provider; the power must shift from the kill switch to the community to ensure the signal survives the silence. By treating youth as the operating system of the movement rather than just  a target audience, we created a distributed leadership model that adapts faster than any censorship system. 

Advocacy for Digital Governance 

To ignite a true digital revolution, the government must bridge the chasm carved by crises in the North West, South West, Far North, and East regions. First, connectivity must be treated as a peace-building tool, decision-makers must pledge an absolute end to internet shutdowns in conflict zones, recognizing that the web is a lifeline for education and humanitarian aid, not a security threat. We need digital sanctuary innovation hubs specifically designed for displaced youth and young women, ensuring that those fleeing violence are not also exiled from the global economy. 

Furthermore, Cameroon must reform restrictive cyber laws that often target young activists, replacing surveillance with safety. By establishing a National Youth Digital Council that mandates representation from all ten regions, the government can transform youth from passive users into architects of policy. Africa’s heartbeat is its youth, yet a digital divide threatens to silence this vibrant pulse. To unlock the continent’s potential, leaders must treat internet access as a fundamental right rather than a luxury, slashing data costs and expanding infrastructure to the furthest rural reaches. However, we need robust, harmonized data privacy frameworks that shield young creators from surveillance and arbitrary internet shutdowns. Crucially, stop building policies for youth and start co-creating them with youth. Establish regional Digital Youth Assemblies where young activists sit at the decision-making table, shaping the algorithms and laws that govern their lives. 

By fostering digital literacy, leaders can transform Africa from a consumer of technology into a global powerhouse of innovation. The future of African democracy isn’t just on the ballot; it’s in the code, the cloud, and the courageous voices of its youngest citizens.

Melvin SONGWE SHUYE, United Youths Organization, Cameroon

The post When Internet Slows, Democracy Withers: Digital Access is a Right, not a Luxury first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, youth are bypassing traditional political barriers by using digital tools to organize and demand accountability. While technology offers powerful new avenues for grassroots participation, it also introduces risks like surveillance and digital exclusion. 

To address this, Kevin Waigwa Gichuhi from Nuru Trust Network is hosting an interactive session for the Youth Democracy Cohort (YDC) to explore how digital rights support democratic action. 

Through breakout groups, participants will co-create practical, grassroots-driven digital responses for inclusive governance.

PRACTICAL INFO

• Registration is mandatory
• 21 April at 13:30 CEST Time on Zoom (Zoom link will be shared the day before with registered participants)
• Live interpretation will be available in French and Spanish, subject to attendance
• Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation and learn new skills!

Questions? Reach out to info@youthdemocracycohort.com

The post [WEBINAR] Digital Rights and Grassroots Democracy first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

Your contributions will directly inform YDC’s work, ensuring our activities and initiatives are responsive, relevant and member-driven.

YDC Participates will launch on 13 April. All members of the YDC will receive an account activation link. Stay tuned!

Join one of our upcoming workshops to discover the platform and learn how you can share your ideas with us:

Option 1: Wednesday 22 of April | 10:00 CET / 16:00 PST – Register

Option 2: Wednesday 22 of April | 16:00 CET / 10:00 ET – Register

The post YDC Participates first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

In the first part, Ifenla and Julius, YAB members,  will share the experience in Uganda during the 2021 and 2025 elections, discussing Julius’ candidacy, the protection measures put in place, and the strategies young people can adopt when internet access is restricted.

The second part will focus on the advocacy efforts from ABLOGUI (Guinean bloggers association), a youth organisation, that led to ECOWAS condemning Guinea in 2020 for violations of the right to information and freedom of expression, offering practical insights for youth organisations seeking to undertake similar actions.

PRACTICAL INFO

• Registration is mandatory
• 10 March, 2PM CEST Time on Zoom (Zoom link will be shared the day before with registered participants)
• Live interpretation will be available in French and Spanish, subject to attendance
• Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation and learn new skills!

Questions? Reach out to info@youthdemocracycohort.com

The post [WEBINAR] Internet Repression x Uganda Elections first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

1. Broaden youth representation

Young people from under-represented regions, rural areas, and marginalised communities remain consistently excluded from policy conversations. The YDC will continue expanding its reach and support structures to ensure that these voices, often the most affected by democratic erosion, shape the decisions that impact their lives. Representation must reflect reality, not privilege.

2. Link participation to policy change

Youth participation cannot stop at consultation. In 2026, we aim to deepen engagement mechanisms so that young people’s contributions lead to measurable influence on policies and programmes. With our partners, we will push for participation models that guarantee follow-through, accountability, and meaningful decision-making power.

3. Highlight global youth impact

Too often, youth leadership remains invisible. By elevating more stories of young changemakers, across continents, disciplines, and movements, we will showcase the real impact youth have already achieved. These stories are not only inspiring; they are evidence that investment in youth participation delivers tangible results.

4. Build stronger bridges between governments, CSOs, and young people

Lasting democratic change requires collaboration. This year, the YDC will continue strengthening partnerships with governments, civil society organisations, and youth groups to create shared spaces of trust and action. Effective youth participation depends on institutions that listen, respond, and work alongside young people as equal partners.

5. Youth participation isn’t a checkbox

It’s co-creating, co-deciding, and co-owning the impact. Young people must be empowered not only to express themselves, but to shape the work and outcomes alongside us. Let youth speak and act.

6. In 2026, youth participation means more than being heard

It means being an active part of the change. As we look ahead, our ambition is to ensure that youth are not passive observers or symbolic contributors, but central actors driving democratic transformation in their communities and beyond.

The post New Year Stronger Commitment: The Youth Democracy Cohort’s Resolutions for 2026 first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

My image of a young Kenyan kneeling down in the Central Business District during the protest while holding the Kenyan flag got some attention and landed me the opportunity to travel to Brussels to show my photos at the International Day for Democracy (IDD) conference. The events that I witnessed during the protests, such as police using teargas and recklessly shooting at young people, showed a lack of care for young lives by both the forces who should protect us and a government that had democratically defined itself as “for the people, by the people.” And all because we demanded accountability. I remember asking one anti-riot policeman: “, Do you not care about the future of your kids?” He replied, “Nyinyi Gen Z Mnasumbua  (“You Gen Z’s are a nuisance.”)

My work as a documentary photographer and a social justice artist has always been to capture what I see and hear and present this to concerned and expert citizens. As a translator and a citizen expert, I believe that the current wave of democratic urgency has to  be met with collaboration that builds intergenerational trust. In this pro-democracy space, who is listening to young (African) voices? This was the first thought I had when I walked into the European Union premises, on the second day of the IDD conference in Brussels.

As we all observe what is going on in different parts of the world, there needs to be space for building understanding across different generations. Political advocacy has almost always exclusively focused on outreach to opinion leaders and influential actors, while ignoring the generation often referred to as future leaders – but who lack representation.

My experience of this important day for democracy in Europe was a reflective moment for me. To sit and listen to people who share the same concern for human rights, social justice and equality was not only a privilege but a challenge: I realised that I must always question and stay curious about my role as a young African, and communicate that the fight for good governance and a citizen-centered democracy should be the number one priority in Africa, Europe and across the world.

IDD included an all-embracing celebration of democracy that gave me hope and reminded me that we are all facing similar, if not the same, struggle for liberation. However, the people affected most by democracy are not well represented and it has long been like this when dealing both with our local governments and in international spaces. Is this because the people entrusted with democratic development are not fully playing their part and accepting half-truths instead of digging into why all this is happening?

My concern is not to question the role of democracy support but to show why it must be done properly. If inclusivity really matters, we must care HOW the story of democracy gets told. We should not invalidate young people or anyone’s lived experiences. As young people become more aware of their roles – and the risks involved – we need to make sure that policy-making and political language become more digestible, accessible and understandable. For me the real concern is this: Are we getting incomplete answers to questions about our democratic future by valuing democratic processes that undermine citizen ownership, rather than build it up? I hope my creative work inspires real involvement of young people in politics, as it is our lives and futures on the line.

More about the author Jeremiah Onyango

Jeremiah is a documentary photographer and social justice artist born and raised in Kibra, a vibrant community on the outskirts of Nairobi. With an unwavering passion for visual storytelling, he has dedicated his life to capturing the essence of surroundings through the lenses of his camera.

His journey is inspired by the daily life stories that unfold around him in Kibra. Jeremiah finds myself drawn to the resilience, hope and dreams that fuels the existence of his fellow residents. Through Jeremiah’s photographs, he strive to chronicle our everyday lives, shedding light on the unique character of my community.

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The post Democracy Needs Intergenerational Dialogue first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

You will meet Rafid Ariyan, a youth activist, storyteller and artist from Bangladesh. He works at the intersection of digital rights, youth engagement, and artivism, using creative tools to empower young people and strengthen civic participation. Rafid was one of the leading youth voices amplifying the July Uprising 2024 in Bangladesh, helping document, narrate and creatively interpret the movement through art and digital storytelling.

We are also pleased to welcome Radak Sammy, a Kenyan Youth leader, Healthcare leader, and Democratic Governance advocate. Radak is passionate about strengthening youth participation in empowering impact in healthcare, business, and governance, and building the next generation of leaders. He will discuss how young people can organise safely during protests, protecting their lives, identities, and democratic gains in high-risk environments. 

PRACTICAL INFO

• Registration is mandatory
• December 2, 1PM CEST Time on Zoom (Zoom link will be shared the day before with registered participants)
• Live Interpretation will be available in French and Spanish, subject to attendance
• Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation and learn new skills!

Questions? Reach out to info@youthdemocracycohort.com

The post [WEBINAR] Youth in Protests first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

by Maurice Thantan

How can young Africans become more involved in the governance of their countries, so that national public policies can be designed not only for them, but above all with them around the decision-making table? This question, the answer to which now sounds like an absolute emergency, was at the heart of two days of reflection in Johannesburg, South Africa. On November 10 and 11, 2025, the fifth edition of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Symposium brought together several hundred young people around the theme: “Youth in Governance: From Promise to Prosperity”.

More than just another forum, this event proved to be a decisive moment to hear the voice of young people in a context marked by the multiplication of discontent movements illustrating the disarray of young people in several countries on the continent. Having followed all the discussions, interviewed a number of young participants and exchanged views with some of them, three points stood out for me, which I thought it would be useful to share in this blog post.

Young Africans can wait no longer

The first observation I made at this symposium, which echoes the almost generalised upheaval of the continent’s youth, is unequivocal: Africa’s young people are expressing a marked impatience with unfulfilled promises and a future that is taking too long to build. Victims of corrupt leaders and aware of their potential, they are demanding immediate concrete action for change.

Data from the Afrobarometer network confirms this tension: in 39 African countries, 64% of young people (aged 18-35) say they prefer democracy to any other form of governance, but 60% feel that it is not working as it should. This finding illustrates their profound quest for substantive democracy as Professor Achille Mbembé puts it. The philosopher and director of the Innovation for Democracy Foundation explains that “this (substantive democracy) would not be limited to elections. It would aim to improve people’s material living conditions, liberate women, ensure ecological and environmental security and a minimum of care, justice and dignity for all.”

At the same time, employment remains young people’s top priority. Indeed, 37% of young people surveyed identified unemployment as the government’s most pressing problem. This contrast between high educational attainment (young people are better educated than their elders) and massive unemployment is a source of deep frustration. On the African continent, 60-65% of the population is under 35, but this majority is plunged into “poverty rates often exceeding 80%”.

As we have seen in Madagascar, youth unemployment and the weakness of public services, which annihilate all attempts at self-employment, as well as widespread corruption , are the characteristic elements of the great exasperation among young people that led to the popular uprising.

Liberating the digital space is imperative

In a context of restricted civic space, marked by the systematic and even systemic muzzling of traditional media, digital space remains the last bastion and the ultimate space for expression, and the one most prized by young people. Its liberation is therefore imperative. The opposite becomes a gas pedal for social rebellion, which quickly turns into popular revolt.

But why is it imperative to liberate the digital space? Firstly, so that we don’t silence the voices of young people, which is just another agent of frustration. You can’t deprive someone of economic opportunities and also deprive them of a voice. Secondly, to enable young people to continue to seize the opportunities that digital technology offers today.

Young people have mastered social networking, using these platforms to express themselves and earn a living. They use messaging applications to organise themselves and become agents of change in their communities. They learn online via MOOC to acquire the digital skills they need to enter this sector.

Unfortunately, in recent years, several African governments have stepped up legal and regulatory initiatives to restrict access to digital spaces, particularly for self-expression.

In Africa, Internet blackouts during elections or demonstrations have become a weapon in the hands of rulers. Excessive taxation of Internet access is a scourge that slows down the expression of young people’s entrepreneurial potential, while the public administration cannot absorb the number of young graduates coming out of universities, and the private sector struggles to offer decent jobs to young people. The United Nations has clearly stated that “ blocking our access to the Internet is a clear violation of our human rights “.

As such, I am pleased to report here the recommendations put forward by Melvin Songwe, one of the symposium’s participants, at a parallel session organised by the Youth Democracy Cohort and Afrobarometer on the theme of “Youth Voices in Numbers: Turning analysis into action”.. These recommendations for a youth-friendly African digital future are addressed to both the African Union and sub-regional integration organisations.

To the African Union, the following is recommended:

I. Promote an African Charter of Digital Rights, ensuring a balance between security imperatives and respect for freedom of expression.

II. Promote the adoption of a continental protocol banning Internet blackouts during election periods, in partnership with the Regional Economic Communities.

III. Launch an African Digital Rights Barometer, to regularly assess states in terms of data protection, freedom of expression and access to information.

To sub-regional integration organisations (ECOWAS, CEMAC, etc.), the following is recommended:

I. Make all electoral support and technical cooperation conditional on a written commitment from member states to refrain from cutting off the Internet during election periods.

II. Set up a regional mechanism for monitoring Internet access restrictions and breaches of cybersecurity legislation.

III. Harmonise regional legal frameworks for data protection and cybersecurity within ECCAS

A frank and voluntary intergenerational dialogue is essential

Most of Africa’s socio-political landscape is marked by contrasting realities. On the one hand, there are political leaders and rulers who have been in power for decades. They are heirs to an era that is totally out of sync with the current context, and are based on an outdated way of doing things.

On the other hand, there are young people (especially those born in the early 2000s) who are hit hard by existential concerns to which the former fail to provide concrete, objective and timely answers.

In fact, an abyssal gap has opened up between young people and their elders, and urgent action is needed to reduce it. Indeed, a well-known African proverb states that “it’s at the end of the old rope that you braid the new”. Several studies have concluded that “African youth can be an opportunity if well managed, or a source of risk if misdirected”. To avoid facing the disarray of a youth who, having lost everything, takes to the streets and forces a democratically elected Head of State to flee, or the violent police repression of demonstrators, there is only one solution: a frank and voluntary intergenerational dialogue.

In my opinion, this is the only way to avoid amplifying the already existing breach of trust, which would only lead to violent confrontation, as we are already seeing here and there. As the young people said at the fifth APRM Forum: “We’re not afraid of bullets any more”. In this respect, we must salute the APRM’s initiative in bringing together elders and young people around the discussion table.

In conclusion, the Johannesburg symposium lifted the veil on a diffuse but powerful sentiment: African youth no longer wants to wait. They have the skills, they have the voice, but they are demanding to be as close as possible to the decision-making table. African public policies can no longer ignore this demand. Personally, I firmly believe that the structured and strategic involvement of young people is not only a question of generational justice, but also a condition of stability and prosperity for Africa today and tomorrow.

The challenge is twofold: to liberate digital spaces, and to structure youth participation in the political system, not as a favor but as a right. If this call goes unheeded, discontent could turn into democratic convulsion. But if these three axes are activated – institutionalisation, empowerment, accountability – then a new participatory era could open up.

Maurice Thantan is a Beninese journalist with over 10 years’ professional experience and an interest in political governance issues in Africa and technological innovations for citizen participation. In 2015, he founded the Benin Bloggers Association, which he will chair until 2019, leading numerous citizen projects focused on transparency, e-government and public accountability. His commitment then led him to join AfricTivistes, the pan-African network of bloggers and web-activists for democracy. A recognized campaigner for open data, Maurice is also an expert in Civic Tech, a field in which he designs and runs training courses on the use of technology to strengthen links between the governing and the governed. A laureate of several international leadership programs, he was named one of Benin’s 20 young leaders by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (2017), then selected in 2023 as one of the 20 best journalists on the African continent as part of the prestigious African Union Media Fellowship.

The post Understanding and addressing the current distress of African youth in 3 points first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

Somewhere between Bilbao and Accra, as the lights of Spain faded beneath the clouds, I found myself listening to Tom Odell’s “Jubilee Road.” It played softly through my headphones, and somehow, every word carried a kind of familiarity. A quiet sense of reflection, resilience, belonging, unfinished stories, and hope. Odell wrote about a street filled with neighbours and everyday lives that intertwined.

As I listened, I thought about the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit I had just attended in Vitoria-Gasteiz, and how, in many ways, the open governance community feels like that street: a place of shared ideals, imperfect realities, and the search for belonging.

To me, Jubilee Road became more than a song. It became a metaphor for the journey toward inclusion. The OGP, like that road, is lined with promises and conversations, yet also with silences, especially for LGBTQIA+ youth like myself. As I walked through the sessions, hearing calls for transparency, accountability, and youth co-creation, I couldn’t help but notice the quiet absence of LGBTQIA+ representation in our discussions about openness.

The Silence in the Room

Representing the Youth Initiative Foundation and as part of the Youth Democracy Cohort delegation, I arrived at the Summit with a deep sense of hope. I met passionate young leaders and listened to policymakers committed to building more accountable democracies. Yet in those same rooms, I often felt an echoing silence, one that many LGBTQIA+ youth would recognize. While we spoke about inclusion, few spoke for us.

According to recent OGP data, fewer than 10% of member countries globally have made explicit commitments to LGBTQIA+ inclusion in their national action plans, and none from Africa so far. This gap reflects a broader hesitation that prevents openness from becoming universal. Many African delegates, despite their passion for democracy, carefully distanced themselves from LGBTQIA+ issues, a reflection of how deeply moral and cultural narratives still shape policy discourse across the continent.

In Ghana, for instance, the ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values’ Bill (recently reintroduced to Parliament) shows how policy is often defined by moral exclusion, not democratic inclusion. For LGBTQIA+ youth and advocates, this moment underscores why inclusion in open governance spaces cannot be delayed. It is not just a matter of policy, but of protection and survival.

Down on Jubilee Road

Our journey, like the symbolic Jubilee Road, is far from over. But every conversation, every act of openness, and every young person who refuses to be silent moves us one step closer to that shared home where equality is not conditional and belonging is not debated. Openness is a road we walk together.

If we truly believe in the spirit of open government, then inclusion cannot be conditional. The next phase of OGP must move beyond rhetoric to measurable commitments.

OGP should require member states to disaggregate participation data by marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, in their National Action Plan reporting. What gets measured gets addressed. Without this visibility, we cannot track progress or hold governments accountable for truly inclusive co-creation processes.

Concrete examples already exist and should be actively promoted. Argentina’s 2021 National Action Plan included specific commitments to improve access to public services for transgender individuals. Uruguay integrated anti-discrimination commitments based on sexual orientation and gender identity. OGP should support the replication of these models across member countries, particularly in regions where such commitments are currently absent.

OGP should also formalize partnerships with established LGBTQIA+ networks that can provide expertise and support. Organizations like ILGA World, Pan Africa ILGA, and OutRight International have decades of experience working with governments on inclusive policy development. By integrating these actors into co-creation processes through advisory roles, technical assistance, or direct participation in National Action Plan development, member states gain access to proven frameworks and lived experience.

Civil society partners within OGP networks must create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth participation. This means not just inviting us to the table, but ensuring protection from discrimination, providing resources for meaningful engagement, and amplifying our voices in decision-making processes.

LGBTQIA+ youth across Africa and beyond deserve more than recognition; they deserve representation. Let the next chapter of open government be one where every voice, especially the most marginalized, helps write the story of transparency and transformation.

Because until every citizen, regardless of identity, can walk Jubilee Road without fear or exclusion, the journey toward openness will remain incomplete.

Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the YDC or its members.

The post Jubilee Road: Reflections on Openness, Inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ Youth in Governance first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.