What:
The African Union (AU), in collaboration with the Republic of Ghana, is organising the Third African Union Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government on the theme, “Youth Inclusion for African stability”, under the High Patronage of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana. The Forum will be held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana, from 3 to 4 July 2026.
The Forum places young people at the heart of its deliberations, recognising their growing influence in political mobilisation, protest movements, and moments of political rupture. It seeks to explore the complex interplay between youth engagement and unconstitutional changes of government, examining both how unresolved governance challenges drive youth disaffection and how young people can catalyse sustainable constitutional solutions. The Forum further aims to assess the multidimensional impact of UCGs on young people's political participation and socio-economic prospects, and to identify concrete pathways to harness youth agency to strengthen constitutional order and democratic governance across the continent. Through a youth-centred lens, it will deepen reflection on the structural root causes of UCGs and generate actionable recommendations to enhance the capacity of the AU, Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), and Member States to prevent political instability, restore constitutional order, and facilitate inclusive transitions.
The two-day reflection will produce an analytical synthesis that captures recent trends in UCGs, highlights unresolved gaps in current response mechanisms, and identifies specific ways in which political disruptions affect youth participation, livelihoods and civic space. It will develop context-sensitive recommendations to strengthen institutional frameworks and promote meaningful youth engagement in governance processes.
This edition builds on the Accra Declaration of March 2022, which underscored the importance of good governance, constitutionalism, socio-economic inclusion, and preventive diplomacy, and called for enhanced coordination between the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA). It also reaffirms the AU’s zero-tolerance policy towards UCGs, in line with the Accra and Malabo commitments, and aims to promote meaningful youth engagement and policies to address UCGs and complex political transitions, thereby ensuring constitutional order, good governance, peace, stability, and prosperity across the African continent.
Who:
The Forum brings together representatives of:
- The AU Peace and Security Council and the Permanent Representatives Committee.
- The Armed Forces of AU Member States.
- The AU Commission and relevant AU organs.
- Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms (RECs/RMs).
- Civil society organisations, academia, think tanks, labour unions, constitutional lawyers, professional groups and development partners.
- Youth leaders, youth-led organisations and networks – given the thematic focus of this third edition.
When and Where:
Date: Friday, 3 July 2026 (Opening Ceremony) Time: 9:00 am (GMT) Venue: Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana
Journalists, photographers, and media crews are requested to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time. Strict protocol and security arrangements will be in place.