Liberia’s Bid to Host 2027 International Young Democratic Union Conference Highlights Youth Participation in Governance and Peacebuilding
Liberia’s Bid to Host 2027 International Young Democratic Union Conference Highlights Youth Participation in Governance and Peacebuilding
MONROVIA, LIBERIA | OCTOBER 19, 2026 The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) recognizes ongoing efforts to position Liberia to host the 2027 International Young Democratic Union (IYDU) Conference, a proposed international gathering that could advanc youth participation in democratic governance, political dialogue, and the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda.
The Youth Chairman of the governing Unity Party, Togar Melvin Cephas, is in Bonn, Germany, attending the Junge Union Deutschlandtag. On the sidelines of the gathering, he is engaging with youth political leaders and other stakeholders to advocate for Liberia to host the conference, which would bring together young political leaders from different countries and political traditions.
These efforts follow Liberia’s hosting of the Young Democratic Union of Africa (YDUA) Conference in July 2026. The conference brought together youth wings from more than 32 political parties across Africa to discuss issues shaping the continent’s future. Liberia’s hosting was first proposed during the 2025 YDUA Conference in Morocco and later confirmed at a board meeting in South Africa.
The Ministry underscores that meaningful youth participation in politics and governance is important to building inclusive, accountable, and peaceful societies. Opportunities for young political leaders to engage across party lines can encourage constructive dialogue, strengthen democratic participation, and develop a generation of leaders equipped to address national and regional challenges.
The proposed IYDU Conference also presents an opportunity to advance the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, which recognizes young people as partners in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace. Meaningful participation, inclusion, and dialogue can help address political exclusion and mistrust while creating space for young people to contribute to peaceful and democratic processes.
Minister of Youth and Sports Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah said the proposed conference could help demonstrate the role young people can play in democratic governance, bridging political differences, and promoting peace and stability. “Young people must not only be included in conversations about the future, but must also have a meaningful role in shaping that future. This conference would create an important platform for young leaders to exchange ideas, strengthen democratic values, and advance a culture of peaceful political participation in Liberia, across Africa, and around the world.”
For Liberia, hosting the conference would offer a platform to highlight young people’s contributions to democratic development and facilitate exchanges on responsible leadership, civic engagement, peaceful political participation, and youth-led approaches to conflict prevention and resolution.
The Ministry emphasizes that young people should be recognized not only as beneficiaries of development initiatives, but also as active participants in decision-making and in shaping the policies and institutions that affect their lives. Expanding opportunities for youth engagement across political and ideological lines is consistent with efforts to strengthen democratic culture and advance the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
The Ministry encourages continued collaboration among youth leaders, political institutions, and development partners to ensure that young people have meaningful opportunities to participate in governance, contribute to national development, and engage with peers across Africa and the international community.
