Youth in Action for Peace: Ethiopia marks International Day of Peace

Jigjiga, Somali Region – With young voices rising at the forefront of peacebuilding, Ethiopia joined the world in marking the International Day of Peace in Jigjiga, Somali Region, a celebration that underscored the transformative role of youth in shaping a more peaceful future. 

The gathering brought together young people from across Ethiopia, alongside government leaders, civil society organizations, and representatives of the United Nations, to reflect on the central role of youth in advancing peace and security.

Globally, the UN marked the day under the theme “Act Now for a Peaceful World.” In Ethiopia, this global call to action found a powerful echo in Jigjiga, where the energy and determination of young people was at the forefront of discussions.

Speaking on behalf of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, Zebulon Takwa (PhD), Peace and Development Adviser to the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team, stressed that peace is not a distant goal but a responsibility of the present.

“It is not something we can postpone to a distant future or hope will come about on its own. Peace must be built through consistent action, commitment, and courage, today. With one of the largest youth populations on the continent, Ethiopia’s future will be shaped by the collective energy, vision, and leadership of its young people. Youth are not only the beneficiaries of peace, but they are also its builders, its champions, and its guardians.”

Istahil Ali Abdilahi and Mohamud Bare Hassan — both displaced by the Oromia –Somali conflict in 2018 and now living in Qoloji IDP camp, Somali Region, exemplify how young people affected by conflict can become champions of peace.

Istahil, 20, fluent in Somali and conversant in Oromifa, represents displaced girls through the IDPs support committee, promoting dialogue, social cohesion, and sustainable peace. Mohamud, 25, a father of two and chairperson of the Displaced Youth Association, advocates for dialogue, security, and durable solutions, stressing that youth must be at the center of peacebuilding.

Youth at the heart of national peace efforts

State Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Muna Mohammed, said that the Ethiopian government has already taken steps to integrate young people into peacebuilding processes. She emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive national peace and security action plan for youth:

“Conflicts, social instability, and disparities in benefiting from and participating in economic activities pose challenges that affect our youth. The preparation of a comprehensive national peace and security action plan for youth can help us address these challenges. This document is not only recommendations for a policy, but an urgent call to action.”

Echoing the State Minister’s statement, Faud Gena, President of the Ethiopian Youth Council, highlighted the momentum behind the government-led process to develop a national action plan on youth, peace and security (YPS):

“At the national level, under the leadership of the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, preparations have begun to develop a national action plan on youth, peace, and security. When this process is finalized and moves into implementation, the youth who represent 70 percent of our nation’s productive and dynamic force will play a crucial role in sustaining peace by making meaningful contributions to dialogue, reconciliation, and nation building.”

Ethiopia in the Global Youth, Peace and Security Agenda

Ethiopia’s efforts do not stand alone. They align with a growing global recognition of the role of youth in peacebuilding — most notably through the UN’s Youth, Peace and Security agenda, born from UN Security Council Resolution 2250 adopted in 2015. This historic resolution recognized the positive role of youth in building and sustaining peace and established a framework built around five pillars: participation, protection, prevention, partnerships, and disengagement and reintegration.

The YPS agenda urges governments to meaningfully include young people in decision-making, ensure their rights and safety, prevent their exclusion from economic and social opportunities, and foster partnerships that amplify youth voices. In Ethiopia, this agenda is beginning to take shape through concrete initiatives. Young people have participated in the national dialogue process, regional peace conferences, and training programs on peacebuilding and conflict prevention organized by civil society and the UN. The Ministry of Women and Social Affairs has supported youth councils and economic empowerment projects, while the Ministry of Peace has launched youth voluntarism initiatives to strengthen local peace efforts. At the same time, measures launched by Ministry of Labor and Skills such as the Job Creation Fund and skills-building programs aim to address youth unemployment, one of the root causes of instability. Importantly, the development of Ethiopia’s first National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security has officially begun, creating a framework to consolidate and expand these efforts. Though still evolving, these efforts reflect Ethiopia’s growing alignment with the global YPS framework, where youth are not only included, but increasingly recognized and empowered as active peacebuilders.

Our Youth: Our Future 

Globally, half of the world’s population is under the age of 30. By 2030, this is expected to reach 57 percent. Young people have the most to lose from inaction on issues like conflict, inequality, and climate change, but they also have the most to offer. 

From mediating local disputes in rural Ethiopia to building tech startups in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian youth can prove daily that peace is not abstract. Rather, it is something that can be built through innovation, dialogue, and opportunity.

The commemoration in Jigjiga was more than a ceremony. It was a reminder that peace begins with youth. As the country develops its national action plan on YPS, the voices heard on this International Day of Peace will remain a guiding compass: peace cannot wait for tomorrow, it must be built today, and when youth are given the space to lead, they do not only inherit the future, they create it!