Despite young people’s ability to affect positive change in democratic processes, they can also be involved in and subject to election-related violence. Although the vast majority of young people are neither violent nor interested in violence, political leaders sometimes successfully manipulate and mobilize young people to initiate or escalate violent actions to support their own political objectives. In many countries with a history of electoral violence, some youth groups have developed strong ties with political parties or armed opposition groups, while in others it is youth wings of political parties that have been directly involved in violent activities.[i]

Examples of long-term interdependent relationships between political parties and armed groups can be found throughout all regions. Political parties often give gangs money, alcohol, drugs or weapons, in exchange for participating or causing political riots, generally disrupting the electoral process, and/or to buy their votes.

Election-related crime delegitimizes the processes that underpin democratic systems. To preserve the integrity of elections and prevent the eruption of election-related violence, aggressive efforts should be taken to disband party militia groups or violent youth wings of political parties that support them. EMBs can play an important role in monitoring illicit activities and ensuring that reports of possible infractions are investigated.

Multi-party dialogues are often held to encourage cooperation and build trust between the different political actors in the interests of peaceful and credible elections. In May 2018, youth from different political parties came together for a national youth collaborative dialogue on preventing youth electoral violence and building sustainable peace in Zimbabwe, facilitated by the Center for Conflict Management and Transformation and VIVA in Harare.