Francine Muyumba

Francine Furaha Muyumba
President of Panafrican Youth Union, the official youth body of the African Union
Assumed office
2014
President of the Student Representative Council of the University of Namibia
In office
2010–2011
Preceded by Job Amupanda
Succeeded by Nahas Angula Jr
Personal details
Born (1987-02-18) 18 February 1987
Residence Democratic Republic of the Congo
Alma mater University of Namibia
Occupation Youth Activist
Website http://francinemuyumba.com/

Francine Furaha Muyumba (born in 1987 in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a Congolese and African young leader serving as the current president of the Panafrican Youth Union, the official youth body of the African Union.[1][2]

Early life

Muyumba graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honors degree from the University of Namibia in 2011. At the University of Namibia, Muyumba was active in student government and in her final year, she was elected President of the Student Representative Council becoming the first ever International student to hold the position. The other international to have been elected to the position was Joseph Kalimbwe a decade later.[3]

During this time in Namibia, Muyumba served as the Acting Country Coordinator of the United Nations Association.[4] After her studies and tenure as Country Coordinator, she returned to serve the youth of her native DRC from 2012 to 2014. Based on her experience of youth activism around the world, she is a regular speaker on youth issues, including before the United Nations. She has also served as the President of the Administrative Board of the National Federation of Youth Entrepreneurs of the DRC, Country Coordinator for the National Youth Forum DRC, and Bilingual Secretary of the DRC government peace talks with M23 rebels in Kampala, Uganda.[5] She helped to mobilize the youth of the Great Lakes region of Africa to participate in peace and stability forums, and became an advocate for youth rights. This contributed to her becoming the first female president of the Panafrican Youth Union, representing all African youth under the African Union.

President of the Panafrican Youth Union

Muyumba was elected president of the Panafrican Youth Union (PYU) in 2014.[6] The PYU functions as the elected representative body for all African youth (defined as those under 35 years of age)—a demographic that consists of 65 percent of Africa's population.[7] During her tenure as President of the PYU, Muyumba strengthened the relationship with the African Union Commission, in order to bring African youth to the center of decision making; and facilitated intergenerational communication and the inclusion of youth voices in political matters across Africa.[8] She serves as the primary representative of youth issues to the African Union and associated Heads of State. Muyumba worked with the African Union Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to establish continental youth development funds.[9][10]

She has been a peace advocate both locally and globally. In her role, Francine Muyumba advocates for youth entrepreneurship and youth job creation to support peace and stability on the African continent. She has also advocated on behalf of African youth to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. She is the first Pan African Youth Union President, since the creation of the Organization in 1962, to be given an opportunity to speak at the UN General Assembly on behalf of African Youth. She has been working closely with United Nations Envoy on Youth to voice issues affecting youth around the world.

Also, in her role as President of the PYU, Muyumba has increased collaboration and goal-setting with international bodies and the African Union through her work with African Union Agenda 2063, the African Youth Charter, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda of the United Nations.[11] Muyumba is a frequent presenter in international youth and women's forums; in 2015, Muyumba spoke at the Global Summit of Women in São Paulo, the United Nations General Assembly, the first World Youth Forum on peace and security in Amman, the African Union Heads of State and government summits, and the Millennium Campus Conference at the United Nations.[12][13] She has also met with the United States Department of State and the World Bank in Washington D.C. in order to strengthen partnerships for African youth development.

On 30th May 2018, Muyumba attended the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg Russia where she stressed that the need of globalisation and that the World needed Africa as much as Africa needed the world.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.africa-youth.org/young-africans-converge-at-aus-hq-for-international-youth-day/ Young Africans Converge at AU's HQ for International Youth Day - African Union Youth Division
  2. ↑ http://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/496128/politique/rdc-lascension-de-francine-muyumba-combattante-pour-la-jeunesse/ RDC : l’ascension de Francine Muyumba, combattante pour la jeunesse – JeuneAfrique.com
  3. ↑ http://zambianeye.com/zambian-elected-namibia-university-students-union-president/ Zambian elected Namibia University Students Union president
  4. ↑ Ikela, Selma. "I am politically mature: Francine Muyumba". Namibian Sun. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Millennium Campus Conference Speakers". Millennium Campus Conference.
  6. ↑ "South Africa: Pres Zuma Congratulates Stars". All Africa. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Dlamini-Zuma Urges African Govts To Accelerate Industrialisation". Radio VoP Zimbabwe. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "General Assembly Meeting Notes". United Nations. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Dlamini-Zuma Urges African Govts To Accelerate Industrialization". Radio VoP Zimbabwe. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  10. ↑ AFP. "No strings attached: African Union seeks financial independence". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa receives the President of the Pan African Youth Union". United Nations. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Speaker & Special Guests". Millennium Campus Conference. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "Summit Schedule". Global Summit of Women. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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