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The Pan African Youth Union congratulates the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsy on becoming Egypt’s first democratically elected President. His victory signals a new era for millions of Egyptians, particularly young people who took to the streets of Cairo in Egypt itching for change and a democratic order in a country plagued by tyranny and trampling of human rights. “We accordingly congratulate the millions of young Egyptians who took over Tahrir Square in January 2011, following the World Festival of Youth and Students (WFYS) hosted in South Africa in December 2010.

The resilience of those young people and subsequent overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak should send a strong message to all nations never to undermine the role of young people in effecting change,” says PYU President Andile Lungisa.

“Most Africans countries have populations that are mainly dominated by young people and this calls for an urgent focus on the needs of this youthful population, majority of which is unemployed and marginalised. If we continue to ignore their pressing issues, it will be at our own peril,” he says.

The PYU urges the youth of Egypt to continue to be diligent in keeping the new leader and his collective in check, such that Egyptians can enjoy democratic rule where human rights prevail as the order of the day. “Young people should never be submissive, but should continue to raise issues of concern whenever necessary,” concludes Lungisa.