Somalia awards scholarships to war-affected Sudanese students

Decades after thousands of Somali students found refuge and education in Khartoum while their own nation faced sociopolitical challenges, the Federal Government of Somalia has opened its doors to Sudanese youth fleeing conflict, symbolising an act of reciprocity.

In the first week of December, the Somali Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, presided over a ceremony welcoming the first cohort of Sudanese students awarded full scholarships by the Somali government.

The students are set to pursue their studies at the Somali National University.

Addressing the students, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir invoked the historical bond between the two nations.

“I am delighted, with immense joy, to welcome the students from brotherly nation of Sudan,” Farah said during the reception. “Their presence here reminds me of how Sudan used to receive thousands of Somali students decades ago. So, welcome to your country and among your people.”

Lifeline

The minister emphasised that the scholarships are a gesture of gratitude, reflecting the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the “longstanding fraternal ties” that the Somali people value deeply.

He expressed hope that the students would find “every means of affection and brotherhood” in Mogadishu.

For the Sudanese delegation, the scholarships offer a critical lifeline. Sudan’s education sector has been decimated by the ongoing conflict that erupted in April 2023.

A Sudanese representative speaking at the event described the scholarships as a beacon of hope during Sudan’s “ordeal,” citing the “fierce war,” the “destruction of infrastructure,” and the “displacement of the entire Sudanese nation.” He lamented the “ruin of a curriculum” caused by the conflict but expressed optimism that Sudan “has now begun to recover.”

Reciprocity

The arrival of the Sudanese students represents a poignant role reversal in the Horn of Africa.

Following the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991, Sudan became a primary destination for Somali intellectuals and students. Prominent Somali leaders, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, are alumni of Sudanese universities.

Over the decades, Sudanese professionals, particularly teachers and aid workers, remained active in Somalia, further cementing the relationship. Now, as Somalia stabilises and rebuilds its own institutions, it is leveraging its limited but growing resources to aid its neighbour.

The education ministry confirmed that more Sudanese students will, in the coming days, enroll at Somali institutions of higher learning.