The Department of Youth and Sports of the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) hosted a celebratory event today, Monday, in observance of International Youth Day 2024, under the slogan "Strengthening the Roles of Youth in Peacebuilding and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals." The event was held under the patronage of President Aidrous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the STC and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).


Acting President of the STC and Chairman of the National Assembly, Mr. Ali Al-Kathiri, delivered a speech, conveying the greetings of President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi and his congratulations to the youth on their international day. He reiterated the Council's commitment to empowering youth as the cornerstone of building the future of the State of the South, a reality that is crystallized through the various bodies of the STC, which have granted youth a voice, a seat, a role, and a partnership in decision-making.


In his speech at the celebration, attended by Mr. Yahya Ghaleb al-Shuaibei, a member of the STC's Presidium, and Mr. Mohammed al-Shaqqi, Assistant Secretary-General for Governorate Affairs, Mr. Al-Kathiri pointed out that "the people of the South today rely on the youth to complete the tasks of the phase during which much has been achieved towards independence and the establishment of their state. Without empowering and enabling the youth, the future will be fraught with dangers, for the spirit of youth is always flowing to create achievements and realities for our people.


Mr. Al-Kathiri further added, "As we celebrate today in this hall, we must not forget the ultimate sacrifices of the heroic youth who cheaply gave their precious lives throughout the liberation revolution to make the glory of the South. Now, we enjoy security and stability in the capital, Aden, and all the governorates of the South, under the protection of our valiant Southern Armed Forces, which serve as a bulwark against all those who seek to undermine the security of our Southern homeland.


Al-Kathiri emphasized in his speech, "Anyone attempting or seeking to restore the dominance of the forces that invaded the South in 1994, or those who invoke slogans of either unification by force or death, will be defeated by the will of our people; they will face utter failure in the face of the sterling well of our young heroes in the armed forces and security services, and the ultimate sacrifices made by our people throughout history have fortified the South and its gains and aspirations.


Concluding his speech, Al-Kathiri asserted that the STC, under the leadership of President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, would remain the primary supporter of the youth and would continue to open horizons of empowerment for them and nurture their creativity in all fields.


It is worth mentioning that at the beginning of the celebration, Mr. Kan'an Al-Kurihi, Head of the Department of Youth and Sports at the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the STC, delivered a speech in which he welcomed all attendees, noting that the celebration of International Youth Day represents an important opportunity to highlight the vital role that young people play in building a promising future and realizing a shared dream, as they are the pillars of the present and the hope of the future.


Mr. Kan'an expressed his sincere well wishes to the wise political leadership, represented by President Aidrous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, praising the president as a leader who recognizes the importance of youth and empowers them to take on challenging tasks, demonstrating his belief in their pivotal role in building the state of the South, and affirming that his steps in involving youth in the STC are clear evidence of his vision for a promising future of the South led by the youth.


The event showcased the pivotal role of youth in the South, as outlined in papers presented by the Abyan Youth Forum and the Youth Forum for Political Development, emphasizing the STC's recognition of t