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Twenty-eight Somali students have been awarded government scholarships to study in Azerbaijan, according to a statement from the Somali Embassy in Ankara on Tuesday. The opportunity marks another step in the growing educational and diplomatic ties between Somalia and Azerbaijan, a relationship that both governments have pledged to strengthen in the coming years.
So far, nineteen of the students have already arrived in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, while nine more are expected to travel in the coming days. The group will be pursuing degrees in areas such as petroleum science, engineering, medicine, and computer science. These are fields Somali officials say are urgently needed to support the country’s recovery, create jobs, and help modernize its economy.
The students were warmly received at Baku International Airport, where Somali embassy officials, including First Secretary Ibrahim Ali Abshir, and representatives from local universities came to welcome them. Somali Ambassador to Turkey, Fathudin Ali Mohamed Ospite, who is also accredited to Azerbaijan, congratulated the students during the reception. He encouraged them to remain committed to their studies and reminded them that their success would not only secure their own futures but also contribute to the progress of Somalia.
This latest batch of scholarships follows commitments made earlier this year. In February 2025, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Baku and signed agreements aimed at boosting cooperation between the two countries. These agreements included areas such as education, energy, public service delivery, and defense. During that meeting, President Aliyev emphasized that Somali students were already benefiting from educational opportunities in Azerbaijan and assured that the number of available scholarships would continue to grow.
The importance of academic exchanges between the two countries was again highlighted in June at a ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. Somali and Azerbaijani foreign ministers used the occasion to reaffirm that education was a key priority. They also agreed to form a Joint Intergovernmental Commission to further deepen ties in this and other areas.
In July, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced that 20 scholarships would be set aside for Somali students in 2025. The announcement underscored the commitment of both governments to expanding opportunities for young Somalis to access higher education abroad, particularly in fields aligned with Somalia’s long-term development goals.
The scholarship program is part of Azerbaijan’s broader initiative to support international cooperation through education. Funded by the Azerbaijani state, the program offers students from developing countries a chance to pursue degrees in Azerbaijani universities, opening doors to careers that may not have been possible at home. For Somalia, the program provides a much-needed pathway for young people to acquire specialized knowledge and skills that can directly contribute to the nation’s rebuilding process.
For the Somali students, the scholarships are more than just academic opportunities; they are life-changing experiences. Studying abroad in a country with a growing reputation for quality education, especially in technical and scientific fields, offers a chance to broaden their horizons, build networks, and return with expertise that Somalia urgently needs. At the same time, their presence in Azerbaijan contributes to cultural exchange, allowing the students to represent Somalia while also learning from a different society.
This initiative reflects the growing partnership between Somalia and Azerbaijan, two countries that have been steadily building stronger diplomatic, economic, and social ties. For Somalia, investing in the education of its youth abroad is part of a wider effort to equip the next generation with the tools necessary to lead the nation toward stability and growth. For Azerbaijan, hosting Somali students strengthens its role as a partner to developing nations and builds goodwill on the international stage.
The arrival of these students in Baku marks a new chapter in Somalia’s journey toward recovery, highlighting the role of education as a cornerstone of progress. Their dedication and eventual achievements are expected to contribute not just to their personal futures, but also to the broader future of Somalia.