11th Edition of the Observatory Days
By Cathy MERCIER | LAMINE MEDIA
(Bangui, June 27, 2026 | LNC) Last Friday, the organization Peace and Development Watch (PDW), with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), organized the 11th edition of the "Observatory Days" (Journées de l’Observatoire), held under the theme: "Youth, civic engagement, and citizen participation." The event aimed to reflect on the challenges hindering youth participation in public life and to identify concrete solutions to strengthen their role in building peace and development in the country. It is worth noting that young people—who make up 60% of the population and represent a strategic asset for economic development and social cohesion in the Central African Republic—are operating in a context marked by severe socio-economic vulnerability. A large number of young people continue to face unemployment, precarious living conditions, and a lack of basic services, the event organizers warned. During the gathering, participants also highlighted a socio-economic divide—linked to poverty, unemployment, and limited access to training—as well as an information and digital divide. The latter exacerbates inequalities in accessing reliable information and limits young people's ability to counter disinformation. Kessy Ekomo, Director of PDW, expressed satisfaction with the participants' continued loyalty. "For us, one of the greatest successes is having a loyal audience. Some people have been attending the Observatory Days since the very first edition and continue to come with members of their communities. Another success is seeing how the discussions held here give rise to numerous initiatives." According to Ousna Armandine Sabé, a television presenter and columnist: "Today’s youth are engaged and highly motivated." "What they lack most of all is a sense of direction and better guidance." By the end of this 11th edition, the organizers hope to have comprehensively explored the realities facing Central African youth, thanks to a well-reasoned analysis of the key issues.
LNC
Date: June 27, 2026
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