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Ethiopia, 11 November 2025 — The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, has emphasized that strategic communication and youth empowerment in digital spaces are key pillars in preventing and countering violent extremism across the region.
Speaking at the opening of the Regional Workshop on Strategic Communication for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, organized by the IGAD Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE) in Hawassa, Ethiopia, Dr. Gebeyehu stressed that youth are not the problem but the solution.
He explained that young people’s voices, creativity, and influence are powerful tools for building positive narratives that promote peace, tolerance, and social resilience.
Dr. Gebeyehu added that IGAD continues to develop data-driven communication strategies and support youth-led initiatives that challenge extremist narratives and expand spaces for dialogue and mutual understanding in the region.
He urged youth to use their positive digital influence to turn online platforms into forces for peace and noble causes, reaffirming IGAD’s commitment to supporting and empowering youth in building safer and more cohesive communities.
