By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
JIGJIGA, 13 August 2026 — Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State marked International Youth Day in Jigjiga on Wednesday with a pledge to expand jobs, entrepreneurship and digital opportunities for young people across the region.
Held under the theme “Diverse Topics and Common Aspirations,” the 12 August forum brought together regional officials, youth groups and civil society representatives to discuss employment and economic participation.
Somali Regional State Deputy President Ibrahim Osman Farah opened the event alongside Regional Youth and Sports Bureau Minister Mohamed Mahdi.
Deputy President Ibrahim said the regional government had surpassed its annual employment target. It had planned to create jobs for more than 160,000 people in 2026, but reached 162,000, with youth making up the majority of beneficiaries.
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“Every year, we plan to create formal and informal employment opportunities for a large number of young people. This year, we planned for more than 160,000 people, and we created employment opportunities for 162,000 people, most of whom are young people,” Ibrahim said.
He said future efforts would focus on creating an enabling environment in key sectors including agriculture, livestock, business, investment, construction, handicrafts, technology and the digital economy.
The deputy president also pledged increased support for innovation and small businesses to enable young people to drive economic growth and regional development.
International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August to highlight the contributions of young people and the challenges they face globally. This year’s UN theme focused on youth participation in sustainable development.