Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a youth program in Mogadishu on Friday that he said will lead o job creation.
Speaking at the launch event for the National Youth Development Initiative, President Mohamud said that the plan would give Somali youth ownership and a significant role in rebuilding Somalia.
“Somali youth make up more than 70% of the population. The youth are the foundation of the state, the country’s economy and social development. To achieve full self-sufficiency, I am announcing a platform for Somali youth to share their creativity and develop their government,” he said.
The president called on the business community to work with the government to increase employment opportunities for Somali youth. He called on young leaders to take risks, be ambitious and be innovative.
Details of the plan have been scant, but the federal government launched the National Youth Policy in December 2017 to identify gaps in youth development and tackle the many problems Somali youth face, including unemployment, lack of education, insecurity, and radicalization.
