The Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 concluded at Speke Resort Munyonyo with a powerful call to action for young people across Africa and the Arab world to embrace ideology, unity, and innovation as the foundation for peace and prosperity. The five-day congress, held under the theme “Amplifying Youth Voices for Peace, Unity and Prosperity,” drew youth leaders, diplomats, policymakers, and development partners into a vibrant exchange on how to reshape the future of two regions bound by shared history and destiny.
The tone of the gathering was not celebratory but awakening. Participants were reminded that the transformation of nations begins in the mind that ideas, not resources, define a people’s progress. Ideological disorientation, often rooted in divisions of tribe, religion, or race, was described as one of Africa’s most persistent obstacles. Delegates were urged to shift from identity politics toward a politics of shared interests, founded on value creation and mutual benefit. The message was clear: nations prosper when they unite around production, innovation, and common economic goals rather than the fault lines of identity.
Africa’s growing population, now at 1.5 billion and projected to reach 2.5 billion within three decades, was portrayed not as a demographic burden but as an opportunity for transformation. The youth were challenged to see themselves not as leaders of tomorrow but as leaders of today, the drivers of enterprise, technology, and regional integration. Yet, the discussions also highlighted that population alone cannot create prosperity; it must be harnessed through deliberate ideological and structural reform.
Speakers called attention to Africa’s fragmented markets, noting that the continent’s 55 small economies remain a major hindrance to industrialization and trade. While regional blocs such as the East African Community and ECOWAS were praised for their promise, delegates urged for their full operationalization to enable economies of scale and competitiveness. The concept of Pan-Africanism extended through Afro-Arab cooperation emerged as a unifying force capable of turning geographical proximity into shared economic power. The young leaders were encouraged to see themselves as Pan-Africanists and Pan-Arabists whose generation could finally dismantle the economic borders that continue to stifle development.
A recurring theme throughout the congress was the need for homegrown innovation. Africa’s abundant resources and favorable climate were acknowledged as both blessings and challenges. The same environment that nurtures agriculture also harbors diseases and pests that weaken productivity. Participants emphasized that the answers to Africa’s problems must come from within, from young innovators who understand their local realities and can design solutions suited to them.
The congress also served as a moment of recognition for the rising role of women in leadership and governance. Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, the African Union’s Special Envoy on Youth and Gender, commended Uganda for setting an example with women occupying key national leadership positions, including the Vice President and Prime Minister. She stressed that gender equality and youth inclusion are no longer optional aspirations but central pillars of sustainable development.
The event drew high-level participation from across the Afro-Arab world. Kenya’s Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, praised the congress as a bridge of understanding between Africa and the Arab world, emphasizing that young people are at the center of enterprise and innovation. Representing the United Arab Emirates, the delegation reaffirmed the country’s belief in youth as changemakers, citing their national youth agenda as an example of how empowerment can drive transformation. Libya’s delegation, led by H.E. Abdul Haddi Lahweej, President of the Afro-Arab Youth Congress, spoke candidly about the continent’s paradox of wealth and poverty, urging Africans to rethink their approach to business and governance. “How can Africa, with all its wealth, still be poor?” he asked, calling for renewed commitment to productivity, unity, and peace.
Peace, indeed, was presented as the moral imperative of progress. Delegates collectively condemned oppression in all its forms and expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine. The consensus was that development cannot coexist with conflict, and that peace must be seen not as an option but as a necessity for both Africa and the Arab world.
By the close of the congress, it was evident that the Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 had transcended its identity as a conventional youth gathering. It became a platform for ideological reawakening, a meeting point between generations, and a call for transformative leadership anchored in unity and innovation. If the voices from Munyonyo take root, 2025 may be remembered as the year a generation redefined its destiny choosing to build, to unite, and to lead an Afro-Arab renaissance grounded in peace, purpose, and shared prosperity.
