Introduction and Context
Somalia’s youth, who make up more than two-thirds of the population, face a bleak reality shaped by decades of conflict and instability. With limited opportunities for education or employment, young Somalis are often forced to make impossible choices — whether to risk dangerous migration, join armed groups, or endure poverty at home.

The constant cycle of violence, coupled with a lack of hope for the future, has created a generation eager to escape conflict by any means. This article examines the challenges facing Somali youth, the forces pushing them away, and the urgent reforms needed to restore hope.


Lack of Opportunities
High unemployment and a fragile economy leave Somali youth with few prospects. Corruption and nepotism often determine access to jobs and education, shutting out the majority of young people.

Education systems remain weak, with limited schools, underpaid teachers, and insecurity preventing consistent attendance. For many families, school fees are unaffordable, leaving young people without skills needed for stable work.

This exclusion feeds frustration, disillusionment, and a sense of abandonment, making migration or radicalisation appear as alternatives.


Recruitment and Radicalisation
Extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab exploit the despair of Somali youth. Promises of income, power, and belonging lure many into joining militant ranks. In rural areas under extremist control, children are forcibly recruited, trained, and indoctrinated.

Young women face additional risks, including forced marriages and sexual violence within armed groups. Those who resist recruitment often live in fear of retaliation.

The manipulation of youth by extremists not only perpetuates conflict but also robs young people of their futures.

Migration Pressures
For many Somali youth, migration becomes the only hope for a better life. Thousands embark on perilous journeys to Europe or the Middle East, facing exploitation, trafficking, and death along the way.

Neighbouring countries host large numbers of Somali refugees, but conditions in camps are harsh, with few opportunities for work or education. Those who survive migration often send remittances home, which sustain families but also highlight the failures of Somalia’s economy.

The risks are immense, yet for countless young Somalis, staying behind feels even more dangerous.


Solutions and Conclusion
Somalia’s future depends on its youth, yet this generation is being lost to migration, radicalisation, and despair. Restoring hope requires comprehensive reforms that prioritise young people.

Key steps include:
- Education reform: expand access to schools, vocational training, and higher education.
- Job creation: invest in agriculture, technology, and infrastructure to generate employment.
- Youth engagement: include young voices in political and peace processes.
- Counter-radicalisation: strengthen community resilience and provide alternatives to extremist recruitment.
- Safe migration pathways: protect those fleeing conflict and create legal routes for mobility.

Unless Somalia invests in its youth, the cycle of endless conflict will continue. By empowering young Somalis, the country can transform despair into opportunity and lay the foundation for peace.