AU Policy for Sustainable Development of Sport in Africa Workshop in Djibouti
The African Union (AU) Commission and the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) in collaboration with the Republic of Djibouti hosted a Policy for Sustainable Development of Sport in Africa Popularisation Conference in Djibouti on 3 and 4 November 2025. The Conference was attended by Directors of Sports from Eastern Africa (AUSC Region 4 Member States) that included: Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, South Sudan, Somalia and Uganda. Β
The objective of the conference was to promote the AU Policy for Sustainable Development of Sport in Africa that was endorsed by the AU Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport (Ministers of Sports) in May 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Directors deliberated on progress that AUSC Region 4 Member States are making in aligning and implementing the policy in their countries.
Dr. Decius Hikabwa Chipande, Head of the African Union Sports Council explained how the policy is aligned to the AU Agenda 2063, and stressed on the need to translate it into actionable programmes and activities aimed at developing sports in the region and using it as a platform for social and economic development to contribute towards achievingΒ the AU vision of βAn integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.β
In his welcome remarks, the Honourable Minister of Sports of the Republic of Djibouti H.E. Mr. Hassan Mohamed Kamil encouraged the Directors of Sports in Region 4 to use the African Union Sports Council platform to meet regularly and strengthen sports programmes in the Region. The Honourable Minister stressed that βsport is now a powerful instrument of peace, social cohesion and regional integration. It brings people together, strengthens ties between communities and contributes to the improvement of the health and well-being of our citizens.β He encouraged the Directors to organise bi-annual sports competitions for youth under the African Union Sports Council to improve the quality of sport and promote regional integration.Β Β
Directors of Sports deliberated and exchanged ideas on alignment of national sport policies with the AU Policy for Sustainable Development of Sports in Africa, AUSC 5 -Year Strategic Plan, and monitoring and evaluations framework. They looked into strengthening the AUSC Region 4 Secretariat based in Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania and starting the process of identifying a host country for the inaugural AUSC Region 4 Youth Games to be held in 2026.Β The Directors also deliberated on African Games and unanimously agreed that the Games must be held in compliance with the Statute of AU Sports Council that was endorsed by the Assembly of AU Heads of States and Government in 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Chairperson of the AUSC Region 4 Bureau of Executive Committee of Experts Mr. Lucas Georges from Seychelles thanked the Republic of Djibouti for generously hosting the conference and for the kind hospitality. He informed the members that Djibouti has set an example of the high standards on how AUSC Region 4 meetings should be hosted.
Β
