You are here

Afrique

A New Youth Generation: Largest in History & a Decisive Force

Africa - INTER PRESS SERVICE - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 10:23

Credit: United Nations
 
At a time of accelerating global crises and transformation, the question is no longer whether young people should be at the table, but how power is being shared with them. With more than 2.6 billion people aged 15–35 worldwide, this generation is not only the largest in history, but a decisive force in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future, according to the United Nations
 
Youth participation must move beyond visibility toward real influence and shared responsibility-UN Secretary-General António Guterres
 
Dr. Felipe Paullier of Uruguay assumed his mandate as the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs in December 2023 at the age of 32. He is the youngest senior appointment in the history of the United Nations, and the youngest serving member of the Secretary-General’s senior management group.

By Bisma Qamar
UNITED NATIONS, May 28 2026 (IPS)

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Head of the United Nations Youth Office shares his leadership approach, insights on youth engagement, and his vision for driving institutional change from the grassroot level — redefining what is possible and proving that age is just a number.

Bisma Qamar: As the youngest and first ASG of the United Nations Youth Office, what drives and shapes your leadership style?

Dr. Paullier: I focus on perspective. Young leaders naturally bring fresh ideas and question why processes exist, fostering creativity and improvement. My approach is human-centered. Issues like mental health and wellbeing indicate societal shifts and must be taken into consideration. Leadership should be accessible and empathetic while understanding one’s potential and well-being. Today’s teams value approachable, realistic leaders rather than authoritative leaders.

“Leadership must blend insight with empathy; people want leaders who understand and support individuals”

From Potential to Performance :

Qamar: As member states become informed and establish programs like the youth delegate program, which strategic aspects are key to truly empowering young voices and ensuring meaningful participation beyond symbolism?

Dr. Paullier: The main challenge is converting narratives into actionable participation. Institutions need inclusivity, structured funding, and support mechanisms. Multilateral collaboration is essential, and power must be genuinely shared with youth. Meaningful participation involves more than representation—it requires influence over decision-making.

UN Youth Forums: Advancing Inclusion and Participation

Qamar: How do forums such as ECOSOC and HLPF contribute to advancing inclusion and promoting equitable opportunities?

Dr. Paullier: ECOSOC and similar platforms provide a structured environment where youth voices can be heard and actively contribute to institutional change. They allow spaces to be created where meaningful dialogue across generations and individuals from diverse backgrounds are possible. These forums emphasize translating strategic narratives into tangible actions at both institutional and grassroots levels, encouraging participants to understand their potential impact as well as the limitations of the processes involved and the power of collaboration to create impact.

Insights from Youth Participation at ECOSOC 2026 :

Qamar: Reflecting on 2026, what are your insights on the impact and engagement such as the ECOSOC for instance?

Dr. Paullier: Geopolitical tensions made participation more difficult for some regions. Nonetheless, enthusiasm remained high. This demonstrates the resilience and determination of young participants who continue to assert their presence and contribute meaningfully, even amid complex global situations.

“Despite such challenges which may occur, youth engagement continues to be a powerful message of hope and influence.”

Conclusion

This conversation highlights the transformative power of human-centered leadership, grounded in trust, collaboration, and vision. Dr. Paullier embodies a model where young leaders not only challenge norms and drive innovation but also inspire inclusion and collective action. His message is clear and compelling: meaningful change is achievable because leaders who step forward, embrace responsibility, and demonstrate possibility.

Through platforms like the United Nations Youth Office, these principles translate into tangible impact, proving that when vision is coupled with courage and collaboration, nothing is impossible — change happens because leaders like him are present to make it so.

As he states “It’s possible, because I am here”

Bisma Qamar is Focal Person for UN and Global Youth Affairs, PMYP.

IPS UN Bureau

 


!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

  

 

Categories: Africa, Afrique

Comment l'ancien président iranien Ahmadinejad est-il devenu l'un des mystères les plus étranges de la guerre en Iran ?

BBC Afrique - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 10:17
Le quotidien The New York Times a rapporté que les États-Unis et Israël considéraient l'ancien président Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comme un leader potentiel pour l'après-guerre.
Categories: Afrique, Défense

Comment l'ancien président iranien Ahmadinejad est-il devenu l'un des mystères les plus étranges de la guerre en Iran ?

BBC Afrique - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 10:17
Le quotidien The New York Times a rapporté que les États-Unis et Israël considéraient l'ancien président Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comme un leader potentiel pour l'après-guerre.

Highlights - EU-UN Peacebuilding Partnership in the Face of Global Instability - Committee on Foreign Affairs

On 3 June 2026 at 17.15 – 18.30, senior UN and EU officials will outline why the EU-UN peacebuilding partnership has consistently demonstrated its value. As deliberations intensify for the next MFF (2028–2034) and the Global Europe instrument, the discussion will explore the value of sustained investment in peacebuilding, including through concrete examples to showcase impact and will seek the perspectives and guidance of MEPs in advancing that case.


Guests:
· Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding and Peace Support, United Nations Department of Political & Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Department of Peace Operations (DPO).
· Peter Wagner, Director of Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission

Guests present to answer questions:
· Agi Veres, Deputy Director if the Crisis Bureau and Director of the Geneva Representation Office, UNDP
· Stella Ronner, Deputy Managing Director Multilateral affairs, European External Action Service
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP
Categories: Afrique, European Union

L’aide contre la faim, victime de la régression américaine

LeMonde / Afrique - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 10:15
Le retour en arrière de Donald Trump sur l’aide alimentaire décidé mi-mai vient après celui opéré sur la santé en 2025. Sous le couvert de défendre les intérêts américains, cette nouvelle manifestation de nationalisme risque d’accroître la misère et la rancœur vis-à-vis des Etats-Unis.
Categories: Afrique, France

Sixteen pupils killed in Kenya school fire, local police say

BBC Africa - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 10:09
Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, with the number of casualties yet to be confirmed.
Categories: Africa, Afrique

Beyond the donors' club: what future for the OECD-DAC?

In Paris delegates convened at the ‘future of development cooperation’ conference organised by the OECD's DCD which supports the work of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the leading traditional donors' aid club.

Beyond the donors' club: what future for the OECD-DAC?

In Paris delegates convened at the ‘future of development cooperation’ conference organised by the OECD's DCD which supports the work of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the leading traditional donors' aid club.

Donald Trump impose sa doctrine « America first » à l’aide alimentaire d’urgence

LeMonde / Afrique - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 10:00
Un nouvel accord entre le Programme alimentaire mondial des Nations unies et le fonds américain Food for Peace prévoit que les denrées alimentaires distribuées dans sept pays vulnérables devront être produites aux Etats-Unis.
Categories: Afrique, Defence`s Feeds

Immigration, Palestine, féminisme, progrès social… Les leçons de l’Espagne à l’Europe libérale

L`Humanité - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 09:56
Dirigée depuis plusieurs années par une coalition de gauche, l’Espagne affiche une santé économique insolente et fait la démonstration que l’on peut faire rimer progrès social et croissance. Que ce soit sur l’immigration, la Palestine ou le féminisme, le gouvernement de Pedro Sanchez avance à contre-courant des logiques néolibérales, atlantistes et réactionnaires dans lesquelles s’embourbent ses voisins européens. De quoi inspirer de ce côté-ci des Pyrénées.
Categories: Afrique, France

Est de la RDC: des délégués américains et suisses évaluent le processus entre Kinshasa et l’AFC/M23

RFI /Afrique - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 09:41
La médiation internationale sur le conflit dans l’est de la RDC est en mouvement. Après un round de négociations mitigé en Suisse mi-avril, des délégués américains et suisses se sont rendus dans la région pour tenter de faire avancer le processus.
Categories: Afrique, European Union

RDC, Ouganda, Soudan du Sud: le Canada suspend ses visas d’entrée en raison d’Ebola, à 15 jours du Mondial

RFI /Afrique - Thu, 28/05/2026 - 09:28
C’est au tour du Canada de renforcer ses contrôles sanitaires face à l’épidémie d’Ebola qui touche plusieurs pays d’Afrique centrale et de l’Est. Ottawa suspend ses visas pour les ressortissants de RDC, d'Ouganda et du Soudan du Sud, impose des quarantaines obligatoires et renforce la surveillance dans ses aéroports, à quelques semaines du Mondial de football 2026 coorganisé avec les États-Unis et le Mexique.
Categories: Afrique, European Union

Pages