Forum For Peace Launched by african youth’s

The Pan African youth civil society organization, African Youth Forum For Peace (AYFP), was officially launched at the Yaounde, Djeuga Palace Hotel on 1 December 2008.

The organization whose pioneer president is Cameroonian born, Ngalim Eugene Nyuydine saw the light of day in the presence of eminent personalities such as the acting representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to Cameroon, Dr Fanidji, the chairman of the Economic, Cultural and Social Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), Barrister Akere Muna, among others.

The African Youth Forum For Peace pioneer president said the organization is the outcome of the efforts of the United Nations and the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) in mobilizing the African youths around the themes of the millennium development Goals through various Pan-African Youth Leadership Summits. The organization, he said, is a response to the numerous conflicts plaguing the continent of Africa. During the first Pan-African Youth Leadership Summit held in Dakar-Senegal from é7 to 30 June 2004, the Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP) under the leadership of Ngalim Eugene pioneered the creation of the African Youth Forum for Peace with youth leaders from the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

The launching of AYFP was therefore the concrete realization of the dreams of the African youth leaders. Statements from eminent personalities during the occasion tied with the objectives of the organization. Professor Verkijika Fanso, lecturer at the University of Yaounde I, talked on the importance of peaceful conflict resolution in armed conflict situations: the case of Cameroon and Nigeria over the Bakassi Peninsular. The acting representative of UNFPA in Cameroon, Dr Fanidji talked on the African Youth Charter, National Youth Polices and National Youth Councils as instruments for youth participation in peace-building. Barrister Akere Muna presented a reflection on the role of the African youth in peace-building the speakers cited the deplorable situation in armed conflict ridden countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur in Sudan.

AYFP whose executive committee was presented at the launching ceremony, seeks to mobilize and coordinate youth initiatives on peace and future of Africa; promote the vision and goals of the African Union; provide training on leadership, conflict prevention, management and resolution; play major roles in addressing and managing conflicts in Africa.