Celebrating Africa’s Youth

My dear young people of Africa - the vibrant heartbeat and driving force of our continent,

Good morning and happy Africa Youth Day 2025!

On this African Youth Day, I extend not only my warmest greetings, but also my deepest admiration and respect for the critical role you play in shaping our continent’s future.

Today, we celebrate your unmatched energy that fuels Africa’s tech hubs, innovation labs and community movements; your unbreakable resilience that turns challenges into opportunities; and your creative vision that is already building the Africa We Want.

We also celebrate the promise of the African Youth Charter - nearly twenty years on, it remains our guiding framework for youth development. This Pan-African Youth Forum is a direct expression of that promise: a standing platform where youth themselves shape policy and action.

Youth at the Heart of Agenda 2063

Africa Youth Day is more than a celebration - it is a moment of collective reflection and recommitment. It aligns with Agenda 2063 and its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, which elevates youth as key agents of change.

Through Moonshot 6 - Empowering African Citizens to Be Productive - our shared goal is to build inclusive systems where young people thrive, with access to quality education, decent work, healthcare, and meaningful participation in decision-making.

Our AU Youth Employment Strategy for Africa reinforces this mandate by outlining pathways to decent jobs, smooth school-to-work transitions, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. These are not abstract goals - they are concrete plans to ensure your talents are realized and your rights fully protected.

Youth Rights, Voice and Leadership

Africa Youth Day 2025 also marks two decades since the adoption of the African Youth Charter. This foundational legal framework affirms your rights to education, work, participation, and a life free from discrimination. It calls on every Member State and institution to protect and empower youth - not as a favor, but as a duty.

Today, we renew our call for the full ratification and implementation of the Charter. We also support mechanisms such as National Youth Councils, youth scorecards and platforms that enable young people to monitor progress and shape public policy.

The African Union Youth Volunteer Corps, Young Professional Programs and the One Million Next Level Initiative are expanding opportunities for meaningful youth engagement and leadership across the continent.

A Continental Call to Action

Let this Africa Youth Day be a rallying point for transformative action:

• We urge governments to ratify and fully domesticate the African Youth Charter and align policies with Agenda 2063’s youth priorities.

• We call on institutions to mainstream youth participation and allocate resources to youth-led development.

• We encourage young people to remain informed, engaged and united in driving forward the rights, responsibilities and reforms envisioned in our continental agenda.

Let this day be more than symbolic - let it ignite action to scale what works, address what needs improvement, and act with the urgency that this moment demands. The success of Africa rests on how fully we partner with our youth.

Conclusion

On behalf of the African Union Commission, I extend my heartfelt appreciation and solidarity to all young people across our beloved continent. You are Africa’s conscience, courage, and creativity - the architects of a bold and united future.

May this Africa Youth Day strengthen our collective will to build a continent where every young person lives in dignity, purpose and power.

Thank you. Merci. Shukran. Obrigado. Gracias. Asante Sana.

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