Why Afro-Arab Youth Cooperation is no longer optional
Africa and the Arab world also share centuries of historical interaction through trade, culture, education and religion. Those longstanding connections provide a strong foundation for deeper cooperation today.
Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba is the Secretary General of the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC). (Courtesy photo)
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For generations, Africa south of the Sahara and the Arab world have often been viewed as separate regions with different political, economic and development priorities. Although geography has long shaped that perception, it does not tell the whole story.
Today, both regions share something far more significant than the Sahara that lies between them: they are home to one of the world's youngest and fastest-growing populations. That demographic reality presents not only a challenge but also an extraordinary opportunity.
More than 60 percent of Africa's population is under the age of 25, while many countries across the Middle East are also experiencing a growing youth population. Together, these young people will shape the future workforce, drive innovation and influence the global economy in the decades ahead.
The question is no longer whether Africa and the Arab world should work more closely together. The real question is how that cooperation can create meaningful opportunities for the next generation.
That is the thinking behind the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC). Since its establishment in Khartoum in 2004, the Council has sought to build practical partnerships that connect young people across Africa and the Arab world through education, entrepreneurship, leadership and cultural exchange.
Moving beyond diplomacy
For many years, Afro-Arab relations were largely discussed through government meetings, diplomatic forums and trade agreements. While those engagements remain important, they cannot by themselves address the everyday challenges facing millions of young people.
Despite differences in language, geography and culture, these challenges are remarkably similar from Kampala and Nairobi to Cairo and Riyadh.
Technology has made those connections even stronger. Young entrepreneurs are building businesses online, developing digital solutions and accessing global markets regardless of national borders. Their ambitions are increasingly shared, and so too are the obstacles they encounter.
Africa and the Arab world also share centuries of historical interaction through trade, culture, education and religion. Those longstanding connections provide a strong foundation for deeper cooperation today.
Turning ideas into action
International organisations are sometimes criticised for producing declarations that generate headlines but deliver little practical impact. Youth organisations must therefore be judged not only by what they say, but by what they achieve.
The Afro-Arab Youth Council has increasingly focused on initiatives that produce lasting value.
One of its flagship projects is the planned AAYC International Headquarters in Nakawuka, Uganda. The proposed 50-acre development is intended to serve as a regional centre for leadership development, research, innovation, cultural exchange and youth empowerment. The project includes plans for office facilities, a science and technology institution, a cultural heritage centre, a hotel and a sports stadium, creating a permanent platform for Afro-Arab collaboration.
The Council has also invested in expanding educational opportunities. Through partnerships with institutions such as UNICAF, more than 1,000 scholarships have been facilitated for young people, opening doors to higher education for students who might otherwise have been left behind.
Beyond education and institutional partnerships, the Council has supported environmental initiatives, including community tree and fruit orchard planting projects that promote climate resilience while creating economic opportunities for rural youth.
Investing in a shared future
The future of Afro-Arab relations will depend less on geography and more on people. Lasting cooperation cannot be built solely through government agreements; it must also be driven by young people who share ideas, develop businesses, pursue education and work together to solve common challenges.
If Africa and the Arab world are to compete in an increasingly connected global economy, investment in young people must become a shared priority. That means creating opportunities for education, innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership across borders.
Youth should not simply inherit the future. They should help shape it.
The Afro-Arab Youth Council seeks to provide one platform for that cooperation. While no single institution can solve every challenge, meaningful partnerships can help unlock the potential that already exists across both regions.
Ultimately, the strength of Afro-Arab relations will be measured not only by diplomatic agreements but by the opportunities created for the millions of young people whose future depends on stronger cooperation today.
Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba is the Secretary General of the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC).