Seeds of Stability: How Guinea-Bissau's Youth are Transforming Political Dialogue for Peace
December 2025
Young political leaders have reduced hate speech, strengthened national unity, amplified marginalized voices, and helped ensure a more peaceful electoral environment.
NB: This article was written prior to the coup d’etat in Guinea-Bissau on November 26. The election itself was undertaken peacefully, perhaps benefiting from some of the actions described in this article. The coup illustrates the long-term nature of democracy building.
In a nation long challenged by political volatility, a quiet yet powerful transformation is underway—led not by seasoned politicians, but by the young members of Guinea-Bissau’s political parties. The creation of the Youth Political Parties Forum—a strategic initiative supported by UNFPA Guinea-Bissau under the Peacebuilding Fund’s (PBF) Political Stabilization and Reform Project—is reshaping political culture from the ground up.
By shifting political engagement from confrontation to consensus, the Forum is proving that youth leadership is not just complementary to peacebuilding—it is essential to securing Guinea-Bissau’s long-term stability.
This change goes far beyond holding meetings. It represents a redefinition of political engagement for the next generation of leaders. As Tcherno Aliu Baldé from União para Mudança recalled:
This collective commitment—to place national interests above partisan rivalry—is the true measure of the initiative’s success.
From Partisan Divide to National Unity: Young Leaders Driving Stability
The Forum’s most immediate impact has been its ability to defuse political tensions and prevent conflict by promoting a shared national identity. Participants entered the process steeped in party-based divisions, expecting ideological confrontation. Instead, they encountered a neutral, constructive space that reframed their roles: not merely party activists, but citizens with a joint responsibility for Guinea-Bissau’s future.
This shift in mindset has contributed directly to a reduction in inflammatory rhetoric, a persistent driver of instability.
These behavioural changes helped create a more peaceful environment for the most recent elections, with monitors noting a significant reduction in election-related violence.
The Forum is demonstrating, in practice, that dialogue—not confrontation—is the most effective tool for conflict prevention and advancing inclusive reforms.
Amplifying Marginalized Voices and Building Trust
A cornerstone of the Forum’s success is its commitment to inclusion. Operating on a principle of zero exclusion, the Forum elevates the voices of youth, women, and persons with disabilities—groups historically sidelined within political structures.
This change is not abstract; it is already reshaping party behaviour. As Tcherno noted:
The internalization of inclusive values is strengthening the legitimacy and credibility of political parties.
Youth have also mobilized previously disengaged peers, helping restore confidence in political processes. They are now acting as credible ambassadors, engaging with media and civil society to promote accurate information, accountability, and peaceful participation.
This is more than capacity-building—it is the rebuilding of institutional trust from the ground up.
Youth Shaping the November 23rd Elections
Ahead of the November 23 general elections, the Forum demonstrated its growing influence as a stabilizing force. Members proactively engaged party leadership to uphold a code of conduct rooted in fairness and democratic norms.
The Forum also acted as a real-time communication bridge, enabling youth representatives from rival parties to quickly address misinformation and defuse emerging tensions.
By championing non-violence, civic duty, and national responsibility, the Forum helped create a more peaceful electoral environment, reinforcing its role as an anchor of political stability.
The Path Ahead: Sustained Capacity for Lasting Peace
Despite remarkable progress, youth leaders acknowledge that deeper reforms require time. Challenges such as tribal divisions and limited programmatic focus persist across the broader political system.
Yet the transformation within the youth movement is unmistakable. They are now:
- adopting issue-based, programmatic approaches,
- rejecting political exploitation post-elections, and
- asserting their rightful place within governance structures.
The next critical step—identified by the youth themselves—is the legal formalization of the Forum, ensuring continuity, protection, and stronger integration into national political processes.
Supported by the Peacebuilding Fund and UNFPA, the Youth Political Parties Forum has evolved from a promising idea into a nascent structure for longer-term institutional and behavioural change. It has begun to create pathways for a new generation of leaders to emerge.