Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched in 2010, is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders; (2) Africa is a continent of strategic importance and it is vital for the United States to support strong and enduring partnerships with the next generation of African leaders; (3) the United States Government should prioritize investments to build the capacity of emerging young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts that— (A) enhance leadership skills; (B) encourage entrepreneurship; (C) strengthen public administration and the role of civil society; (D) enhance peace and security in their respective countries of origin and across Africa; and (E) connect young African leaders continentally and globally across the private, civic, and public sectors; (4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on efforts to foster economic growth, improve public sector transparency and governance, and counter extremism, and should be an area of focus for United States outreach on the African continent; and (5) the Secretary of State should— (A) increase the number of fellows from Africa participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship above the estimated 700 fellows who participated during fiscal year 2024; and (B) identify additional ways to connect YALI alumni to United States public and private resources and institutions.