Youth Empowerment and Conflict Prevention in Puntland, Somalia

ABSTRACT The study intended to ascertain whether empowering youth through education, employment and political participation can prevent the youth from conflict engagement in the three major towns of Puntland, Somalia. The sample size was 200.The study employed descriptive design specifically descriptive comparative and descriptive correlation. Using a self-made questionnaire, data was collected to answer four questions on:lTo find out the access to education in Puntland,Sornalia;2 To determine the employment status of youth in Puntland,Sornalia;3 l’o ascertain the political participation of youth in Puntland,Somalia;4 To establish whether empowering youth in education, employment and political participation will reduce conflict in Puntland, Somalia. Data analysis using frequencies, percentages, and means revealed that majority of the youth were male 120(60%) between 21-25 years(89%), with bachelor degree 60(30%) and the majority having no work experience 82(41%) This study found the access to education to be low with an average mean of 2.46 proving that education in Puntland is neither affordable nor accessible. Overall the employment status of youth in Puntland was low (mean 2.47) characterized by nepotism. poor payment and unemployment. The disconnect between education and employment opportunities was the biggest hurdle youth face in getting jobs, and the key obstacle to their social and economic empowerment. The political participation of youth in Puntland, Somalia was low (mean=2.36) with the old not ready to vacate office, the young people are not involved in decision making with the culture that discourages people to participate in politics. The study also found out that Youth who were civically engaged were less likely to endorse the use of violence to achieve political means. Conflict prevention was interpreted as high with an average mean (2.51). Hence conflict is preventable if young people are well empowered being ranked as the highest (mean= 3.28). The study found out there is no significant relationship between youth empowerment and conflict prevention in Puntland, Somalia.(r=0.1 70).