MOGADISHU, Somalia (SONNA) – The Federal Government of Somalia today reaffirmed its strategic commitment to accelerating the development and use of Kiswahili, hosting a high-level delegation from the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) in Mogadishu.
The meeting is a critical step in operationalizing Somalia’s integration into the East African Community (EAC) linguistic framework since officially joining the bloc.
In a high-level consultative meeting held at his office, the Acting Minister and Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, H.E. Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala, formally received the Executive Secretary of the EAKC, Dr. Caroline Asiimwe.
The discussion, part of a high-level policy engagement by the EAKC , focused on the “policy issues for development and promotion of Kiswahili” within Somalia, following directives from the EAC Council of Ministers and Summit.
Minister Al-Adala stated unequivocally that the Federal Government of Somalia is prepared to fully participate in the efforts to implement Kiswahili as an official language of the Community. He identified three critical pillars for this national effort: Media, Education, and Culture.
The Minister emphasized that since Somalia’s accession to the EAC, the government, guided by His Excellency the President, has initiated a concerted drive to accelerate the development of the Kiswahili language.
Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, the EAKC Executive Secretary, thanked the Deputy Minister for the warm reception and productive engagement. She noted that the development and promotion of Kiswahili are a shared responsibility for all partner states within the EAC, praising Somalia’s proactive stance.
This consultative meeting was convened to follow up on several key EAC directives, including the 21st Ordinary Summit’s decision to adopt Kiswahili as an official language and the subsequent “Roadmap for Implementation” adopted by the Council of Ministers.
A central objective of the meeting was to “assess progress and accelerate implementation” of this roadmap. For Somalia, a primary deliverable is the “institutionalization of Kiswahili through the establishment of a National Kiswahili Council”, which will be mandated to coordinate all national efforts.
The talks in Mogadishu are expected to produce a clear action plan for strengthening Somalia’s institutional capacity and enhancing coordination between the EAKC and Somali national institutions, particularly the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.
Somalia’s focus on adopting Kiswahili is seen as a vital component of its broader strategy to deepen its integration and unlock the full economic and social benefits of its EAC membership.
