Hargeysa(Mogadishu24)-Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Health, Liban Yussuf Osman, expressed concerns about the increasing unemployment rate in Somaliland.

Speaking at a graduation event where thousands of Somaliland youth graduated from various courses, the Minister mentioned that there are sufficient opportunities in Somaliland, but they are not limited to government jobs, which are scarce.

“The government has limited employment opportunities due to low demand. Thousands graduate from universities every year, and not all of them can be employed in government offices, which require only a few staff. However, we believe there are more opportunities in our country,” said Liban Yussuf, Somaliland’s deputy minister of Health.

The deputy minister pointed out that more than 40,000 employees in Somaliland are from foreign countries, stating that they often possess more skills than the local graduates.

“Graduates usually want to get employed and serve their community, but this may not be possible for many of our graduates because these opportunities are often given to foreigners who are better-trained and more skilled than our graduates.”

“We have over 40,000 foreigners from Asia, Europe, Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, working in Somaliland because they are well-trained and highly skilled. We have plenty of employment opportunities in our country, but we lack the necessary skills,” he added.

The increase in the unemployment rate, poverty, high living standards, and conflicts has caused huge challenges for the people of Somaliland.

For more than three decades, the Somaliland has been seeking international recognition while maintaining its peace and security. However, its pursuit of recognition as an independent nation remains uncertain.