Somali PM Hamza Abdi Barre has called on Somalia’s youth to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder in defense of our homeland,” stressing that protecting the country is both a religious duty and a moral obligation.
Somali PM Hamza Abdi Barre Urges Youth to Defend the Nation.
- National Duty: “It is our collective responsibility not to be divided; we must unite for Somalia,” Barre told a packed youth rally in Mogadishu.
- Security Gains: The government has made “tangible progress” against al-Shabaab militants—referred to as “khawarij”—and will intensify military operations until stability is secured nationwide.
- One-Person, One-Vote: Barre reaffirmed the administration’s roadmap toward Somalia’s first fully popular elections in more than five decades, pledging that every citizen will cast a single, equal ballot.
- Youth Empowerment: The premier underscored that the ongoing district-level polls give young Somalis an unprecedented chance to help design the country’s future political architecture.
Mobilizing Somalia Majority-youth Population is Critical
Somalia is approaching a pivotal juncture: AU peacekeepers are withdrawing, security responsibilities are shifting to national forces, and electoral reforms are poised to replace clan-based power-sharing with universal suffrage.
Mobilizing the nation’s majority-youth population is therefore critical for:
- Bolstering frontline defense against insurgency.
- Ensuring voter turnout in forthcoming “one person, one vote” elections.
- Strengthening social cohesion across clan lines.
Analysts say the Somali PM Hamza Abdi appeal aligns with Mogadishu’s broader strategy to couple battlefield gains with democratic legitimacy.
If successful, Somalia could enter 2026 with a more secure landscape and the first truly representative parliament since 1969.
