East Africa is one of the most populous regions, inhabited by over 185 million people. According to a recent UN report, 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30, highlighting that the youth form the majority of the population.
Since the decolonization of Africa 60 years ago, East Africa-like other parts of the continent-has experienced various upheavals, including internal power struggles, cross-border wars, displacement, poverty, drought, drug and human trafficking, and terrorism. These crises have had severe negative consequences on the region’s socio-economic and political development.
After independence, border demarcation and delimitation were not properly carried out. As a result, sporadic conflicts between countries became common, costing them valuable human resources, finances, and time. The lack of strong, functioning institutions capable of managing border areas allowed illegal trade and human trafficking to flourish, further damaging national economies.
The region’s economy is predominantly agricultural-characterized by rain-fed, subsistence farming that is highly vulnerable to drought. Agriculture provides food to local markets, supplies raw materials to emerging agro-industries, creates employment for millions, and serves as the primary source of foreign currency. However, the sector’s underdevelopment has hindered structural transformation in regional economies.
East Africa is also one of the least urbanized regions in the world, with only 22 percent of the population living in urban centers. Most youth reside in rural areas, engaged in subsistence farming and living hand-to-mouth. A lack of educational institutions in these areas prevents them from improving their lives, perpetuating a cycle of poverty across generations.
High rural-to-urban migration-primarily among youth-has overwhelmed urban centers. Cities already struggle with widespread poverty, unemployment, housing shortages, and skyrocketing rents. Many migrants are forced to live in substandard shelters and work in the informal sector as street vendors, daily laborers, or other low-skilled jobs. Women are often pushed into prostitution, and in extreme cases, some turn to criminal activities.
When hopes for better lives in urban areas fade, many youth consider cross-border or intercontinental migration, often facilitated by human traffickers. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), human trafficking in East Africa results in millions of dollars being laundered illegally each year, fueling corruption and harming already fragile economies.
Female youth often migrate to the Middle East for domestic work, while others travel to Europe via Sudan, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea. Since the end of apartheid in 1991, South Africa has also become a major destination for migrants from East Africa. Migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia travel through countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique, often facing harrowing conditions.
Because these migrations are illegal, migrants risk arrest and imprisonment, suffocation in container trucks, attacks by wild animals, or abuse in prison without due process. Those traveling through Sudan into Libya face abduction by criminal gangs who demand ransom. If payments are not made, migrants may be detained or killed, or their organs harvested. Some are even sold in open slave markets in Libya.
Studies cite both push and pull factors for migration:
- Push factors: unemployment, poverty, political instability, conflict, and drought.
- Pull factors: job opportunities, higher salaries, and political stability in destination countries.
In South Africa, East African migrants face xenophobia. Native citizens often see them as competitors for scarce jobs, leading to discrimination, violence, and even murder. According to IOM, more than 10,000 African migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean Sea in the past 15 years due to overloaded and unseaworthy vessels.
Italy, the first European country many African migrants reach, has served as both host and transit point. However, recent legislation has curtailed migrant support, which could worsen conditions for future arrivals.
The Horn of Africa also has one of the highest birth rates globally. While populous nations like China consider a large population an asset-fueling labor supply, production, and consumption-this is not the case for poorer nations without sufficient job opportunities. Thus, population growth in these regions can be a liability.
Expanding family planning programs in rural areas is essential to manage population growth and avoid its negative consequences. Similarly, expanding educational institutions, providing vocational training, and creating job opportunities can restore hope among the youth and encourage them to build their futures at home.
In response to these multifaceted challenges, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) recently adopted a Youth Policy to promote youth rights and boost youth engagement in regional development. At a landmark ministerial meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, IGAD emphasized the policy as a critical framework for integrating youth priorities into national laws, policies, and development programs.
The policy was developed through extensive consultations with youth affairs experts from member states, National Youth Councils, youth-led organizations, and the IGAD Secretariat. The ministers concluded their meeting by issuing a declaration to implement the IGAD Youth Policy Framework. They also agreed to form technical and ministerial committees to monitor progress and urged development partners, including international financial institutions, to support its operationalization.
Youth, being in their most productive years, can drive rapid development across the region. Providing them with education and training is essential to make them competitive in the labor market. Expanding labor-intensive agro-industries can help absorb unemployed rural youth, and attracting both local and foreign investment is vital.
Youth should not be passive in national affairs. Governments must create environments where young people can thrive-by protecting their right to free expression, independent organization, and meaningful participation in political and economic life.
In the past, many youth were marginalized due to authoritarian regimes and the absence of the rule of law, leading to frustration and migration. Unemployment has also driven many into drug and alcohol addiction, threatening their futures.
In Ethiopia, youth issues have long been a national priority. The Ministry of Children, Women and Youth plays a key role in youth empowerment, operating youth organizations from federal to district (woreda) levels. Together with stakeholders, the Ministry provides life skills training and creates an environment for youth to aspire to a better future.
The Ministry of Labor also contributes by offering job training in collaboration with private companies and supporting youth to start their own businesses. The Development Bank of Ethiopia plays an instrumental role by providing startup loans.
In conclusion, strengthening coordinated efforts to address youth challenges is essential for securing a prosperous and stable future for East Africa.
BY ABEBE WOLDEGIORGIS
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE 2025
