Africa’s rapidly growing youth population is increasingly becoming one of the continent’s most important economic assets, with governments placing greater emphasis on investments in young people, skills development, entrepreneurship and sports as drivers of economic growth.
Against this backdrop, Egypt and South Sudan are seeking to strengthen cooperation in youth and sports, signalling the growing recognition that investing in young people can deliver benefits that extend beyond cultural exchange and diplomacy to employment creation, social stability and economic development.
Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Gohar Nabil, recently met South Sudan’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, to discuss ways of expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions focused on exchanging expertise and best practices, making better use of available resources and implementing joint programmes and activities targeting young people and athletes.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Hani Salah, Egypt’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates for Sudan and South Sudan Affairs, alongside senior government officials and representatives from the foreign affairs ministries.
While youth and sports cooperation is often viewed primarily through the lens of cultural exchange, the growing youth population across Africa is giving such partnerships increasing economic significance.
Africa has the world’s youngest population, and its expanding youth demographic presents both a major opportunity and a significant policy challenge. If young Africans are equipped with relevant skills and provided with opportunities to participate in the economy, they could become a powerful engine for innovation, entrepreneurship, productivity and consumer market growth.
However, high levels of unemployment and limited economic opportunities continue to affect millions of young people across the continent. This makes investment in youth programmes increasingly important for governments seeking to convert Africa’s demographic growth into an economic dividend.
Cooperation between countries such as Egypt and South Sudan could help expand access to training, mentorship, education and sporting opportunities while encouraging the exchange of knowledge and professional expertise.
Nabil said sports can serve as an important form of soft power, bringing people together and opening new channels for communication and cooperation.
But the economic potential of the sports sector is also becoming increasingly important. Beyond athletes and sporting competitions, the industry supports employment in areas such as coaching, media, broadcasting, tourism, event management, technology, marketing and infrastructure development.
For young Africans, investment in sports can therefore create opportunities beyond the playing field while also developing skills such as leadership, teamwork, discipline and entrepreneurship.
South Sudan’s Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk welcomed the prospect of deeper cooperation with Egypt and expressed appreciation for the relationship between the two countries. She said South Sudan was committed to strengthening cooperation in youth and sports while benefiting from Egypt’s experience and expertise.
For Egypt, deeper engagement with South Sudan’s youth sector could also strengthen its economic and diplomatic ties in East Africa, where a young and rapidly expanding population is reshaping markets and development priorities.
The two countries agreed to maintain coordination and work towards activating areas of joint cooperation in the coming period.
As Africa’s population continues to grow, governments will increasingly be judged by their ability to create opportunities for young people and integrate them into productive sectors of the economy.
The Egypt–South Sudan partnership demonstrates how youth cooperation can move beyond sports and cultural diplomacy to become part of a broader development strategy. By investing in skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and the creative and sports industries, African countries have an opportunity to transform their youthful populations into one of the continent’s strongest engines of economic growth.
For Africa, the challenge is no longer simply managing a growing youth population. The bigger question is whether governments and institutions can create the opportunities needed to turn this demographic advantage into jobs, businesses, innovation and sustainable economic prosperity.
