The Role of Youth in Peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa with Possibility for the Establishment of the IGAD Youth Special Envoy

The predominant image of youth with regards to peace and conflict is often negative, meaning that they are often seen as major actors when it comes to violence. Much research has tended to focus on the role of youth in violence promotion. Youth are often neglected in post-conflict reconstruction activities since it is not clear who they are. Definitions of youth are context-dependent. The trend in research is increasingly on the need to target youth since their capacities can easily be turned to advantage the society instead. Since youth are seen as dynamic and open, they have the potential to have a role both in violence promotion and in peace building. If they are provided with opportunities to socioeconomic development, the literature argues that they can transform their roles and become actors in peace building. The purpose of this study was to analyze youth involvement in peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa with the prospect of establishing the IGAD Youth Special Envoy. This study was guided by the following research objectives: to assess why youth are important actors in peacebuilding; to analyze the implications of including youth in peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa, and to explore the creation of IGAD Youth Special Envoy in leading to youth inclusivity in peacebuilding. This research study was guided with the following questions; Why are youth important actors in peacebuilding?; What are the implications of including youth in peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa?; and can the creation of the IGAD Youth Special Envoy lead to youth inclusivity in peacebuilding? The objectives will guide the study. The Horn of Africa region having a number of countries, the study will only examine Kenya and South Sudan. This study will employ qualitative approach which will be explorative to be precise. The findings will be transcribed via narrative text, using content from both primary and secondary data. Humanity, throughout history, has disproportionately placed the burdens of war and violence on young people. The fact that today there are more young people alive than ever in history entails a deep reflection. The sheer numbers alone justify the inclusion and consideration of youth in policymaking and planning of peacebuilding processes.