By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Ethiopia, 7 January 2026 - Ethiopia's Somali Regional State has launched its first Muslim Youth Council, marking a milestone in religious freedom and youth empowerment.
The event, held on Wednesday in Jigjiga, was presided over by the region's President, Mustafa Mohammed Omar, and attended by local youths. The Chairperson of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council Sheikh Haji Ibrahim, who is on a working visit to the region, also attended the ceremony.
The newly formed council is the first of its kind aimed at unifying Muslim youths across the region. Its primary objectives are to bolster youth participation in social affairs and strengthen the unity and integration of the Muslim community within the Somali Region.
Addressing the crowd, President Mustafe highlighted the significant progress made regarding religious freedom over the past seven years. He noted that prior to recent reforms, religious expression in the region was severely restricted.
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Sheikh Tufa is expected to use his visit to evaluate the performance of the Regional Majlis (Council) over the past three months and finalize plans for future operations.
