Museveni urges Afro-Arab world to embrace ideology, unity and innovation

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As he officiated at the closure of the Afro-Arab Youth Congress 2025 in Kampala on Friday (October 10), President Yoweri Museveni urged the young people across Africa and the Arab world to embrace ideology, unity, and innovation as tools for peace and prosperity.

The five-day congress held at Speke Resort Munyonyo was themed around amplifying youth voices for peace, unity and prosperity.

It drew youth leaders, government officials, diplomats, and representatives from across Africa and the Arab world to chart a new course for collaboration and progress.

Museveni said the projected growth of Africa's total population from the current 1.5 billion people to 2.5 billion in the next 30 years positions 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 said.

The Ugandan president said that while Africa is blessed with favourable weather and abundant natural resources, the same environment also supports challenges such as tsetse flies, malaria and other diseases. Thus, he underlined the need for young innovators to find homegrown solutions to such problems.

He identified ten strategic bottlenecks that continue to hold Africa back, emphasising that ideological disorientation remains one of the most dangerous. He said Africa’s political weakness has often stemmed from focusing on identity rather than shared interests.

“The most important question in politics is: is it about identity or about interests? In the case of Sudan, some people destroyed their country by introducing politics of identity, of tribe and religion. Even here in Uganda, some tried to bring it, but we rejected it. We said what we need is politics of interest, because prosperity comes from selling a good or a service, not from tribalism.”

Museveni added that political parties that dwell on tribal or sectarian lines cannot build strong national movements. “How can you have a political party that can win elections if you are emphasising tribes?” he asked, warning that such divisions destroy nations rather than building them.

The president also cited a fragmented market as another obstacle to Africa’s progress, noting that meaningful development requires production supported by consumers with purchasing power. 

“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 said that while regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and ECOWAS exist, they are not yet fully functional, while the Maghreb Union could not take off because of internal challenges. He, therefore, challenged the youth to embrace ideology-driven leadership.

“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.”

Museveni said Ugandans have learned that their internal market alone cannot sustain production, as the country now produces surpluses of nearly everything.

“Ugandans used to be sectarian, but after waking up, they realized that the internal market is not enough for their goods. Ideology is like a medical prescription — if it is wrong, the patient will die.”

At the event, the Ugandan president launched a fundraising drive for the Afro-Arab Youth Congress, aimed at strengthening youth empowerment programmes across Africa and the Arab world.

'Leaders of today'

Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, the Special Envoy to the African Union Chairperson on Youth and Gender Issues, applauded Museveni for giving women and young people a strong voice in leadership.

“We thank President Museveni for giving a platform to women. Uganda is an example to the continent because its Cabinet includes women at the highest levels — the Vice President, the Prime Minister, and several other key ministers.”

The Deputy President of Kenya, Kithure Kindiki, praised the Afro-Arab Youth Congress as a bridge between the two regions, saying it provides “a vital forum for building understanding and cooperation between Africa and the Arab world".

He emphasised that youth are at the centre of enterprise and innovation. “Young people today are creating enterprises that offer new solutions. They are not just leaders of tomorrow — they are leaders of today.”

Reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to regional co-operation, Kindiki added, “To the youth, this is your time to stand. The future is not promised — it is created.”

Representing Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the UAE delegation reaffirmed the Emirates’ belief in youth as drivers of transformation.

“We firmly believe in the youth as changemakers. In the UAE, we launched a national youth agenda to empower young people to shape the future. My dear youth, we believe in you — you have the passion and energy to transform our world."

The President of the Afro-Arab Youth Congress, Abdul Haddi Lahweej, underscored the shared destiny between Africa and the Arab world, saying, “Arab and African nations live side by side and face similar challenges".

He revealed that Libya is “providing thousands of jobs to support youth and help rebuild our nation,” and questioned why Africa, with its abundant resources, remains poor.

“Africa needs to push its pace and change how it does business if we are to catch up with the rest of the world.” Lahweej also called for peace and a united stand 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.”