By Edwin Mbewe
MAPUTO-(Maravipost)-The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) and Mozambique government on Monday, May 26, 2025 officially signed a protocol agreement for the hosting of the 12th edition of the region 5 youth Games, scheduled to take place from 4th to 13th December 2026.
The agreement was formalized at a high-level ceremony in Maputo on Monday, 26th May 2025, where the Minister of Youth and Sports of Mozambique, Caifadine Paulo Manasse and the AUSC Region 5 Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Mutoya, signed the protocol agreement, sealing the commitment for both parties to deliver a Games edition that reflects the values of youth empowerment, regional integration, and sporting excellence.
The AUSC Region 5 family expressed its deep gratitude to the government of Mozambique for approving the hosting of this prestigious multi-sport event and conveyed special appreciation to President Daniel Chapo, for his visionary support and unwavering commitment to uplifting the youth of Southern Africa through sport.
AUSC Region 5 Youth games Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Mutoya stated, “His leadership signals a profound understanding of sports power to unify, educate, and inspire future generations.
“This edition will mark Mozambique’s second time hosting the Region 5 Youth games, having successfully staged the inaugural edition in 2004”, Mutoya.
The return of the Games to the Mozambique soil, more than a two decades later, is both a celebration of historical legacy and a reaffirmation of Mozambique’s pivotal role in the Regional sporting landscape.
The Region 5 Youth Games serve as a vital implementation mechanism of the SADC protocol on culture, information and sport, and are closely aligned with the African Union Agenda 2063 aspirations-particularly those focussed on youth development, regional integration, health promotion and cultural exchange.
The games offer a platform for athletes aged under 20 to showcase their talents while fostering cross-cultural connections and nurturing future continental and global champions.
In line with the Region’s practice, Mozambique will have the privilege of proposing an additional sporting code to be added to the official programme for the 2026 Games edition, allowing the host country to showcase a discipline of national prominence and relevance.
AUSC region 5 is confident that Mozambique will deliver a Games edition that will be both memorable and impactful, leaving a legacy of infrastructure, youth development capacity, and strengthened partnership.
As per the agreement, preparations will immediately commence through a joint planning process led by a Local Organizing Committee, with support from the AUSC Region 5 regional Organising Committee.
The region looks forward to working with all stakeholders in Mozambique to ensure that the 12th edition of the Region 5 Youth Games becomes a model of excellence, inclusion, and inspiration.
