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Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre on Saturday welcomed a senior delegation from the Arab League in Mogadishu, where discussions centered on strengthening cooperation between Somalia and the regional body, with a special focus on the country’s education sector and the teaching of the Arabic language.
The delegation was led by Zayd Al-Sabbaan, Director of the Horn of Africa and Sudan Department at the Arab League, who said the organization is committed to supporting Somalia in a wide range of areas including politics, economics, and development. According to Al-Sabbaan, the League considers Somalia a key partner in the region and views investment in education as an important step in empowering the next generation while reinforcing cultural and linguistic ties between Somalia and the wider Arab world.
Prime Minister Barre expressed gratitude for the Arab League’s support, describing it as consistent and long-standing. He highlighted the group’s contributions not only to Somalia’s education system but also in diplomacy, debt relief, and economic recovery efforts. Somalia, which has endured decades of civil conflict and instability, has in recent years been working to rebuild institutions and create pathways for sustainable development. Support from regional and international partners has been crucial to that process.
The Arab League delegation praised the progress made by Mogadishu in recent years, particularly the government’s attempts to stabilize institutions, expand economic opportunities, and restore Somalia’s role in regional cooperation. They emphasized the need to expand these areas of partnership, with education seen as a critical foundation. While the Prime Minister’s office did not provide detailed information on the exact scope or location of the new education projects, the commitment itself was presented as a sign of deepening ties.
For Somalia, the pledge comes at a time when the government is seeking to build confidence both domestically and abroad. Education has long been identified as one of the most important areas for investment, as decades of war left schools destroyed, literacy levels low, and many young people without access to formal learning. Improving education and strengthening language training, particularly in Arabic, is viewed as a way to connect Somali students more closely to cultural, religious, and economic opportunities in the broader Arab region.
The meeting also reflects the Arab League’s broader strategy of increasing engagement with member states that are emerging from conflict or undergoing transitions. By extending support to Somalia’s education sector, the League signals its intent to remain an active partner in the country’s recovery journey. Delegates expressed optimism about Somalia’s ability to rebuild and stressed that cooperation should not only address immediate challenges but also lay the foundation for long-term stability and prosperity.
For Prime Minister Barre, who has made institution-building a central theme of his leadership, the support provides both encouragement and responsibility. Somalia’s government has been attempting to balance urgent security concerns with long-term development, and education sits at the heart of both. A strong education system is seen as essential to preparing youth for jobs, reducing vulnerability to extremism, and strengthening the sense of national identity.
The visit by the Arab League is therefore more than a diplomatic gesture—it represents a broader recognition of Somalia’s efforts to reemerge as a functioning state and a member of the global community. For many Somalis, the pledge to invest in education offers hope that future generations will have better opportunities than the ones before them. While the details of the initiative are yet to be fully disclosed, the symbolism of the visit underlines a message of solidarity and partnership that the Somali government hopes to nurture further in the years ahead.