Mauritania: Sahel youths brainstorm on pressing issues

Youths from Africa have urged their governments to help end poverty, mass unemployment and the harmful effects of climate change.

The call was made during a conference in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott which brought together participants from the diaspora, Sahel and Maghreb regions.

“What we have witnessed here has been a fruitful dialogue sometimes tough but fruitful because it is intended to find questions to pressing issues in the region especially those which directly affect the youth,” a Sahel region expert, Mamadou Diouf said.

A representative of Mauritanian youths said: “Several points were adopted during the meeting including issues related to employment, peace and security, Education and entrepreneurship among young people.”

The Sahel region has been going through security, economic and financial crisis. The most challenging however has been the security aspect due to increased terrorism and the rise of radical groups. Authorities of the region believe an atmosphere of peace will help speed up economic development.

During the conference member states adopted an urgent strategic plan for the youth.

“A selection was done among youths of the various countries concerned . Let’s not forget that the project targets 1250 young people that is 250 in each country. It was really difficult to bring all these youth together for the meeting. That is why we identified at least five in every country,” the youth representative for G5 Sahel countries, Aminata Bilal said.

The dialogue falls within the framework of following up actions taken at the national level as well as the vision of G5 countries. But the lack of vocational training structures and supervision centres to orientate young people, is a major challenge for the youths and governments of the countries concerned.