Assilah hosts Mediterranean Youth Academy to advance multidimensional diplomacy and youth leadership

Saturday 11 July 2026 - 15:45

By: Sahili Aya

Assilah hosts Mediterranean Youth Academy to advance multidimensional diplomacy and youth leadership

The sixth edition of the Mediterranean Youth Academy has opened in Assilah, bringing together young leaders, policymakers and international experts to explore how youth can play a more influential role in shaping public policy and strengthening international cooperation.

Organized by the Mediterranean Youth Forum (FOMEJE), this year's edition is held under the theme "From Rights to Influence: Empowering Youth Through Multidimensional Diplomacy." The event welcomes around 120 participants from across Morocco, alongside delegates from Arab and Euro-Mediterranean countries, creating a platform for dialogue on governance, innovation and regional cooperation.

Youth diplomacy takes center stage

The academy focuses on expanding the concept of diplomacy beyond traditional state-to-state relations by encouraging greater engagement through cultural, digital, economic and civic channels.

Participants will examine a wide range of strategic issues, including digital rights governance, artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty, entrepreneurship, innovation, human security, peacebuilding, and the growing role of culture and media as instruments of soft power. Discussions will also address how innovative ideas can be translated into effective public policies that increase youth participation in decision-making.

The program reflects a broader effort to position young people as active contributors to governance rather than passive beneficiaries of public initiatives.

International partnerships strengthen regional dialogue

This year's gathering features participants from the Moroccan-Jordanian-Finnish youth exchange program supported through the European Union's Erasmus+ framework, alongside delegates attending the Moroccan-Egyptian youth forum organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Egypt in Rabat and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The diverse participation reinforces the academy's role as a meeting point for intercultural dialogue and cross-border cooperation across the Mediterranean region.

Encouraging responsible digital influence

Speaking during the opening ceremony, FOMEJE President Yassine Isbouia described the academy as a platform designed to move beyond recognizing young people's rights toward enabling them to become genuine partners in designing, implementing and evaluating public policies.

He also announced new initiatives encouraging young people to create responsible digital content that promotes authentic cultural and artistic heritage while documenting their own experiences and ideas. The objective is to empower youth to become creators of positive influence in the digital sphere.

As part of this strategy, organizers unveiled the Assilah Digital Creativity Award, which will recognize outstanding digital content in two categories: one highlighting the city of Assilah and another dedicated to the Mediterranean Youth Academy.

Diplomats highlight youth as a pillar of future cooperation

Jordanian Ambassador to Morocco Jumana Ghunaimat emphasized Assilah's transformation into an important center for youth engagement while paying tribute to the late Mohamed Benaissa for his contribution to establishing the city's international cultural profile.

She also underlined the strength of Moroccan-Jordanian relations, noting that investment in young people remains a shared strategic priority for both countries.

Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Nehad Abdel-Latif likewise stressed the importance of complementing traditional diplomacy with youth diplomacy, arguing that stronger people-to-people connections are essential for building lasting regional partnerships.

He highlighted the Egyptian-Moroccan Cultural Forum, organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Egypt, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and FOMEJE, as an example of how cultural diplomacy can foster intellectual exchange between younger generations.

Building the next generation of regional leaders

Throughout the academy, participants will engage in public policy laboratories, interactive training workshops, expert discussions and networking sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills and international collaboration.

By combining policy dialogue with practical capacity-building, the Mediterranean Youth Academy continues to position Assilah as an emerging hub for youth engagement, innovation and multidimensional diplomacy across the Mediterranean region.