Somalia, Fed. Rep.

**No new government, ILO, or World Bank data releases on Somalia’s youth (15-24) or male unemployment were identified in the last 60 days (since ~early April 2026).** Baseline figures remain the most recent: modeled ILO/World Bank estimates show youth unemployment (total, 15-24) at approximately 34.2% for 2025, with male-specific modeled estimates around 32.1% for 2024.[[1]](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLUEM1524ZSSOM)[[2]](https://tradingeconomics.com/somalia/unemployment-youth-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-ages-15-24-modeled-ilo-estimate-wb-data.html) A World Bank-supported BOOST-You project (approved late 2025) targets youth employment (aiming for 28,000 jobs by 2029, including for women) via cash transfers and skills support, but no updated outcome data or new national statistics have emerged.[[3]](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/10/28/over-738000-somalis-to-benefit-from-world-bank-supported-initiative-for-jobs-social-protection-and-climate-resilience)

**Significant events in the last 60 days affecting young men (18-35) include economic shocks, protests, and security force unrest:**

- **Currency crisis (April–May 2026)**: Businesses and traders in Mogadishu largely stopped accepting old, worn, or torn Somali shilling notes (in circulation without new issuance for decades), citing condition and counterfeiting issues. This began intensifying in the prior month and led to a protest by dozens of exchange traders on 4 May 2026 in Mogadishu, with chants highlighting the lack of a functional national currency. The federal government responded by declaring rejection of the shilling a crime and ordering continued acceptance. The crisis disproportionately hits the poorest (reliant on cash/mobile money exchanges for remittances and daily transactions) and exacerbates economic desperation amid heavy dollarization.[[4]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/11/poorest-somalis-hit-hardest-currency-shillings-mobile-money)[[4]](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/11/poorest-somalis-hit-hardest-currency-shillings-mobile-money)

- **Protests over evictions/demolitions (May 2026)**: Opposition-organized demonstrations in Mogadishu on or around 10–11 May 2026 protested government-led forced evictions and home demolitions. Security forces dispersed crowds, with reports of at least one death from shooting. Protests caused disruptions, including alleged interference with mobile payment systems (e.g., EVC).[[5]](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYLvDDZgeJG/)[[6]](https://www.somaliguardian.com/news/somalia-news/somalia-mogadishu-mass-protests-forced-evictions-demolitions/)[[5]](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYLvDDZgeJG/)

- **Security forces unrest (recent, building on April 2026 incidents)**: Members of the Custodial Corps (Mogadishu Central Prison) blocked roads in protest over months-to-over-a-year of unpaid salaries, causing major traffic disruption. This fits a pattern including Galmudug Guards unrest in April 2026 and other units citing wage delays. Such grievances among security personnel (a key employment avenue for young men) signal broader instability.[[7]](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYAv75JMl6F/?hl=en)[[7]](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYAv75JMl6F/?hl=en)

- **Humanitarian/economic pressures (May 2026 reports)**: The hunger crisis has significantly worsened due to failed rainy seasons/drought, conflict, declining aid, and rising global prices (linked to Middle East tensions). Over 6.5 million people face acute food insecurity in some assessments; this compounds youth economic marginalization.[[8]](https://www.pbs.org/video/somalia-in-crisis-1778184918/)[[9]](https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW875207052026RP1/)

**Notable NGO/academic reports on youth from 2025 (published or covering the period, with limited brand-new releases in the exact window):** UNDP’s January 2025 report on sustainable employment opportunities emphasizes youth entrepreneurship and skills gaps; the Somalia National Youth Policy (updated context for 2023–2030); UNICEF Somalia Annual Report 2025 (published ~Feb 2026); and Mastercard Foundation’s Africa Youth Employment Outlook 2026 (Feb 2026, covering Somalia). Earlier 2025 analyses (e.g., Clingendael November 2025) highlight ongoing youth vulnerabilities amid federal fragility.[[10]](https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2026-01/erid_report_1_2025.pdf)[[11]](https://mastercardfdn.org/en/our-research/africa-youth-employment-outlook-2026/)

**Internet/mobile infrastructure:** No shutdowns, major rollouts, or coverage changes reported in Somalia during the last 60 days. End-2025 penetration stood at ~27.6% internet usage and 58.1% mobile connections (many voice/SMS-only). Somaliland election-related monitoring noted historical risks but no confirmed recent national actions.[[12]](https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-somalia)

**Assessment relative to baseline (youth male unemployment 32.4% in 2025; instability fuse 93.5/100):** The May 2026 currency crisis, protests (with lethal force), and security sector wage unrest represent acute economic and political shocks likely to heighten desperation, protest participation, or militia recruitment risks among young men. These align with and could intensify the already very high instability score, though no direct unemployment metric update shifts the 32.4% baseline. Ongoing Al-Shabaab activity and federal-regional tensions provide further context but predate the 60-day window. Sources primarily from Guardian, Al Jazeera, Instagram/verified reels (May 2026), and institutional reports.

**- Somali National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS) / Somalia Data Portal & SDG portals**  
  Name/URL: Somali National Bureau of Statistics (https://nbs.gov.so/; linked portals include https://somalia.opendataforafrica.org/ and https://somaliasdg.nbs.gov.so)  
  API: No (primarily visualizations, downloads, and open data portals with CSV/Excel exports)  
  Update frequency: Periodic (e.g., CPI releases, GDP annual, labor/unemployment indicators from surveys like LFS)  
  Auth required: None (free public access; terms of use apply for reuse)[[1]](https://nbs.gov.so/)[[2]](https://nbs.gov.so/terms-of-use-for-open-data-portals-and-datasets/)

**- Central Bank of Somalia (CBS)**  
  Name/URL: Central Bank of Somalia (https://centralbank.gov.so/; publications include Quarterly Economic Reviews, Annual Reports, and Statistical Bulletins)  
  API: No (PDF downloads of economic indicators, some compiled from SNBS)  
  Update frequency: Quarterly (reviews) and annual (reports/bulletins)  
  Auth required: None (free public downloads)[[3]](https://centralbank.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Statistical-Bulletin_June-2024.pdf)[[4]](https://centralbank.gov.so/)

**- African Development Bank (AfDB) Statistical Data Portal (Open Data for Africa / country portals)**  
  Name/URL: AfDB Statistical Data Portal (https://dataportal.opendataforafrica.org/; Somalia-specific: https://somalia.opendataforafrica.org/)  
  API: Partial (data exports in multiple formats; portal supports queries and downloads for socio-economic indicators including labor/economic data with country breakdowns)  
  Update frequency: Regular updates to time-series databases (1960s onward for many indicators)  
  Auth required: None (free public access)[[5]](https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/statistics)[[6]](https://www.re3data.org/repository/r3d100011929)

**- Somali news RSS feeds (e.g., Shabelle Media Network, Somali National News Agency, Puntland Post)**  
  Name/URL: Various (curated lists at https://rss.feedspot.com/somalia_rss_feeds/; direct examples include agency sites with /rss or /feed endpoints)  
  API: No (RSS feeds available; some outlets may offer additional web APIs via aggregators)  
  Update frequency: Real-time to daily (news coverage of local events, economy, instability)  
  Auth required: None (standard RSS subscription)[[7]](https://rss.feedspot.com/somalia_rss_feeds/)

**- Additional regional/international complements with Somalia breakdowns (for context)**:  
  - AfDB and similar portals already noted above. ESCWA is primarily Western Asia-focused and less relevant for Somalia. No dedicated Somalia-specific central bank/finance ministry API found beyond CBS publications.[[8]](https://dataportal.opendataforafrica.org/nbyenxf/afdb-socio-economic-database-1960-2020)

These sources emphasize direct or official data portals/downloads rather than inferred or modeled datasets. National sources like SNBS/CBS are limited in API maturity compared to World Bank/ACLED but provide primary indicators (unemployment, GDP, labor) via downloads. Check sites directly for latest export options, as infrastructure is developing.