### President Museveni Officiates at the Closure of the Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025
In Kampala, Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officiated the closure of the five-day Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo on October 10, 2025. The event, themed “Amplifying Youth Voices for Peace, Unity and Prosperity,” gathered youth leaders, government officials, diplomats, and representatives from Africa and the Arab world to foster collaboration and progress. Held from October 6 to 10, it emphasized ideology, unity, and innovation as keys to peace and prosperity.
President Museveni highlighted Africa’s demographic potential, noting its current 1.5 billion population is projected to reach 2.5 billion in 30 years, positioning the continent as the future of global growth. “You young people need to know that you belong to the future of the world. The future belongs here in the Afro-Arab world,” he stated. He acknowledged Africa’s favorable climate and resources but pointed out challenges like tsetse flies and malaria, urging young innovators to develop homegrown solutions. “Africa has a good climate, but that climate is also good for Africa’s enemies like tsetse flies, malaria, and other diseases,” he remarked.
Museveni identified ten strategic bottlenecks hindering Africa, with ideological disorientation as the most dangerous, often rooted in identity politics over shared interests. “The most important question in politics is: is it about identity or about interests?” he asked, citing Sudan’s destruction by tribal and religious divisions and Uganda’s rejection of such approaches. He warned that tribal or sectarian political parties cannot build strong nations: “How can you have a political party that can win elections if you are emphasizing tribes?” He also criticized Africa’s fragmented markets, divided into 55 small ones, limiting production and consumption. Regional blocs like the East African Community (EAC) and ECOWAS exist but are not fully functional, and the Maghreb Union failed due to internal issues. “Development comes when you produce a good or service. You must have a society of wealth creators. But Africa is divided into 55 small markets — who will buy what you produce?” he questioned.
He advocated for patriotism and Pan-Africanism: “What is your ideology? I recommend to you the ideology of patriotism — love your country, whichever it is — but also be young Pan-Africanists because Uganda cannot thrive without Africa.” Uganda’s experience showed that internal markets alone cannot sustain surpluses, leading to a shift from sectarianism. “Ideology is like a medical prescription — if it is wrong, the patient will die,” he added. Museveni launched a fundraising drive to strengthen youth empowerment programs across the regions.
Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, Special Envoy to the African Union Chairperson on Youth and Gender Issues, praised Museveni for empowering women and youth in Uganda’s leadership, including the Vice President and Prime Minister. Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki hailed the congress as a bridge between Africa and the Arab world, emphasizing youth as current innovators: “Young people today are creating enterprises that offer new solutions. They are not just leaders of tomorrow — they are leaders of today.” He urged youth to create their future: “To the youth, this is your time to stand. The future is not promised — it is created.”
The UAE delegation, representing President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reaffirmed commitment to youth as changemakers, citing the UAE’s national youth agenda: “We firmly believe in the youth as changemakers… My dear youth, we believe in you — you have the passion and energy to transform our world.”
Afro-Arab Youth Congress President H.E. Abdul Haddi Lahweej stressed shared challenges and destinies: “Arab and African nations live side by side and face similar challenges.” He noted Libya’s job creation efforts and questioned Africa’s poverty despite resources: “How can Africa, with all its wealth, still be poor?” He called for accelerated business changes, peace, and unity against oppression, especially in Palestine: “Africa must push for peace and stop wars. We must also strongly condemn oppression against Palestinians because peace is not an option — it is a necessity.”
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Source: Watchdog Uganda