Namibia Concludes Region 5 Leadership as Mozambique Takes Over at Swakopmund Meeting

Namibia Concludes Region 5 Leadership as Mozambique Takes Over at Swakopmund Meeting. The African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 has officially entered a new chapter as Namibia handed over the Chairpersonship to Mozambique during the Council of Ministers Ordinary Meeting held in Swakopmund. Hosted under the theme “Sustainability Through Sport,” the meeting marked a formal transition of leadership and a moment of reflection on the region’s progress.

Outgoing Chairperson, Hon. Dr. Sanet L. Steenkamp, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, delivered her final address by highlighting the collective commitment that shaped Namibia’s tenure. She reaffirmed that regional leadership was built on shared responsibility, collaboration and trust. She also emphasised the importance of unity, noting that Region 5’s strength lies in its diversity and its common resolve to advance a stronger and more inclusive sporting community.

During Namibia’s leadership, the region recorded notable milestones. These included increased youth participation, improved gender representation and environmental sustainability efforts. The 11th Region 5 Youth Games achieved 51 percent female participation, the highest in the history of the event. The Games also saw the global integration of Special Olympics athletes into the official programme for the first time. Environmental initiatives such as the installation of air quality monitors in Swakopmund and Windhoek further demonstrated the region’s commitment to sustainable development.

Delegates at the meeting commended these achievements as proof of what regional unity can deliver. Mr. Erastus Haitengela, outgoing Chairperson of the Board of Advisors and Executive Director of MEIYSAC, urged Member States to continue prioritising cooperation and implementation, describing sport as a driver of youth development, social cohesion and economic growth.

The meeting also confirmed that Member States will hold strategic engagements from 4 to 5 December 2025 to review policy development and youth programmes. AUSC Region 5 CEO, Mr. Stanley Mutoya, announced that the 2026 Region 5 Youth Games will take place in Maputo, Mozambique, from 4 to 13 December, marking Mozambique’s second time hosting the event since 2004.