ECOWAS Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Inclusion in West African Democracy

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing the participation of young people in democratic governance and political decision-making across the region.

ECOWAS stated this on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in a statement posted on its X handle, announcing the first edition of the West African Youth Conference on Democracy in Dakar, Senegal.

The three-day conference, which began on September 8 and will run until September 10, is being co-organised by the ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Political Affairs, and LEGISE360, a youth organisation focused on the defence of rights, development and public awareness.

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The conference is themed: “From activism to taking power: reassessing the political inclusion of young people in West Africa and advancing a regional agenda for democratic governance.”

According to ECOWAS, the conference is designed to provide a high-level regional platform to assess progress made in youth political participation and examine the barriers that continue to limit their involvement in democratic processes.

The regional body said the conference would also promote evidence-based political and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the meaningful inclusion of young people in governance across ECOWAS member states.

The statement said the initiative reflects ECOWAS’ commitment to ensuring that young people move beyond activism to play a more meaningful role in political leadership and decision-making.

ECOWAS said the conference would further support efforts to advance a regional agenda for democratic governance and create opportunities for young people to contribute to shaping the political future of West Africa.