AAYC Strengthens Ties with Kenya in Landmark Courtesy Visit

The Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) made significant strides in advancing its mission during a courtesy visit to the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda. The Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Abbas Agaba, held discussions with Kenya’s High Commissioner, Joash Maangi, focusing on the AAYC’s ongoing efforts and future plans.

Key among the updates was the upcoming construction of the AAYC secretariat’s headquarters in Nakawuka along Entebbe Road, a landmark project aimed at enhancing the Council’s operations. Hon. Dr. Agaba highlighted Kenya’s role as a regional coordinator for the AAYC in East Africa and emphasized the historical and cultural ties between Africans and Arabs, with two-thirds of the Arab population residing on the African continent.

Dr. Agaba also outlined the Council’s major activities, including its annual anniversary event held every March, and sought the High Commission’s intervention in helping the AAYC integration process into the Kenyan government’s structures. He further requested follow-up support on a letter from Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, on the construction process of the secretariat.

In response, High Commissioner Joash Maangi expressed his willingness to recommend and advocate for Kenya’s support of the project. He acknowledged the importance of youth (Gen zs) in shaping the future and affirmed his readiness to facilitate AAYC’s engagement with Arab consulates in Kenya. Maangi also promised to assist in organizing a courtesy visit to Kenya, allowing AAYC to interact with key government officials, including the Prime Minister, and to connect with various youth associations.

This visit marked a pivotal step in fostering greater collaboration between the AAYC and Kenya, as both sides committed to strengthening the youth-driven development agenda across the region.