Africa may be the world’s youngest continent, but its young people still have limited influence over the decisions that will determine their future. This is why the continent must consider giving its youth a formal place within the African Union, according to President of the Abdou Samb Foundation and Honorary Ambassador to the Pan-African Parliament for the Diaspora, Abdou Samb.
Samb is calling for African youth to be recognised as the “seventh region” of the African Union, saying the proposal should go beyond giving young people another title or symbolic position. He wants a system that gives them a genuine voice, resources and the opportunity to take part in shaping policies across the continent.
The proposal comes from what Samb describes as a major imbalance in Africa. While young people make up more than 60 per cent of the continent’s population, many of the institutions responsible for deciding Africa’s future are still dominated by older generations. He argues that young Africans should no longer be treated simply as “leaders of tomorrow” while decisions about their lives are being made today without their meaningful participation.
Samb said the idea began gaining greater attention following the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa in February 2026. It was later taken up by more than 1,000 young Africans during an event in Johannesburg on June 16, where they strongly backed the call for youth to become the continent’s seventh region.
The campaign was also presented in Bujumbura during activities marking the 20th anniversary of the African Youth Charter, where the proposal received a positive response. But Samb warned that acceptance of the idea must not be where the process ends.
He pointed to the African diaspora as an example. The African Union officially recognised the diaspora as its sixth region on July 11, 2003, in recognition of Africans living outside the continent and their role in Africa’s development. But Samb said the experience has shown that recognition alone does not automatically translate into real influence.
According to him, the diaspora has largely remained in a consultative position, with limited voting rights, resources and involvement in major continental decisions. He believes African leaders must learn from that experience before creating a seventh region for young people.
For the proposed youth region to make a difference, Samb said young Africans must have the ability to introduce ideas, influence decisions and access dedicated resources. He also stressed that membership or leadership in such a structure must be based on merit and ability rather than political connections or favouritism.
He argued that Africa has no shortage of talented young people and that many qualified Africans, including those in the diaspora, are willing to contribute but often face unclear procedures, weak systems and administrative barriers. The challenge, he said, is therefore not simply finding talent but creating an institutional structure that allows that talent to be used effectively.
Samb said Africa’s future cannot be secured through speeches and promises alone. If the African Union accepts the seventh-region proposal, he believes it must become a practical mechanism that gives young Africans the power and responsibility to contribute to the continent’s development. For him, the real question is no longer whether African youth deserve a seat at the table, but whether that seat will give them real power to help shape the future of Africa.