A proposal has been made to designate African youth as the seventh region of the African Union (AU) to correct long-standing structural failings in the continent’s governance and representation.
The call was raised during the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa in February 2026. The proponent argued that the Union’s current structure fails to formally integrate the interests of the youth, despite their overwhelming demographic presence across the continent.
The proposal suggests that the AU should treat the youth as a distinct structural entity, similar to how it recognised the African diaspora as the sixth region in 2003. This move would shift youth engagement from a programmatic approach to a constitutional one, giving young Africans a formal institutional status within the Union.
The argument for this shift rests on the precedent set two decades ago. By establishing the diaspora as the sixth region, the AU acknowledged that geography should not be a barrier to membership or influence. The current proposal argues that age and generational status represent a similar barrier that requires a structural solution rather than mere consultative committees.
AU Institutional Reforms and Youth Representation
Africa currently possesses the youngest population of any continent, with a median age significantly lower than that of Asia, Europe, or the Americas. While the AU has implemented various initiatives under its Agenda 2063—the blueprint for transforming Africa into a global powerhouse—critics argue that these efforts often lack the binding authority of a formal regional designation.
Establishing youth as the seventh region would potentially alter how the AU allocates resources, defines voting blocs, and develops policy. Currently, the AU is divided into five geographic regions: North, South, East, West, and Central. The addition of the diaspora as the sixth region was a landmark decision to ensure that people of African descent worldwide could contribute to the continent’s development.
Advocates for the youth region argue that without this status, young people remain secondary stakeholders in decisions that will primarily affect their future. This structural gap often leads to policies that are designed for the youth rather than by the youth.
This push for structural inclusion aligns with broader calls for African leadership to move beyond rhetoric and embrace genuine empowerment. For instance, the focus on youth entrepreneurship and economic independence, similar to the inspiring ideas for Africa proposed by Tony Elumelu, highlights the necessity of giving young people the tools and the platform to lead.
The proposal was presented as part of a critique of the AU’s structural failings, suggesting that the organisation must evolve to reflect the demographic reality of the 21st century.
If adopted, the move would require an amendment to the AU’s constitutive framework. This would likely spark debate among member states regarding the balance of power between traditional sovereign nations and a demographic-based regional entity.
The AU Assembly has not yet issued a formal decision on the proposal, and it remains to be seen if the member states will support the transition from a youth-inclusive policy to a youth-led structural region.
