The United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI), in collaboration with the Afro-Arab Youth Council, has raised urgent concerns over critical weaknesses in Africa’s criminal justice systems—particularly the shortage of cybercrime trainers, lack of electronic evidence skills, and fears that crime data transparency could harm tourism.
The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding witnessed by Dr.Abdu Haddi Lahweej Libya' s foreign affairs minister also president of Afro Arab youths council,Amina Hilmi, deputy secretary general Africa Afro Arab youths council, Dr Abbas Agaba the secretary general Afro Arab youths council among other.
Munanura Andrew Karokora , the Acting Director of UNAFRI—which has operated since 1989 —told a high-level meeting that many member states struggle to collect reliable crime data. “Some countries are reluctant to share statistics because they fear it will affect tourism,” he said.
Serious training deficits in areas like terrorism and cybercrime cripple the economy,” Mulokola warned. He called for urgent exchange of information and capacity-building programs across Africa.
He also noted that much of the data remains locked within ministries of justice, inaccessible for research on juveniles, youths, and regional crime trends.
Dr.Abbas Agaba, the secretary general Afro-Arab Youth Council, reinforced the urgency, stating that crime is dynamic and that international cooperation is essential.
“Young people are part of the solution. What is for them must include them,” he said, condemning the use of children in wars and the rape of women in conflict zones.
Dr. Abdu Haddi Lahweej, President of the Afro-Arab Youth Council, emphasized that two-thirds of Arabs and Africans live on the African continent, sharing a common destiny and an obligation to promote peace and unity.
Amina Hilmi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council, called for improved prison conditions and enhanced training for investigators, noting that the entire criminal justice chain—from police to prosecution—lacks basic electronic evidence handling skills.
