Somalia recently declared its intention to increase the teaching of Swahili in its schools. The goal of the diplomatic shift is to foster closer relations with East Africa as well. This program is at the center of the country’s national strategy. To promote economic development and to increase regional integration after officially joining the East African Community (EAC).
Swahili is one of the ten most spoken languages in the world. With over 200 million speakers, it’s the lingua franca of East Africa. This language is incredibly important for communicating on the ground between soldiers of East African countries. African Union troops have been using it regularly since their deployment to Darfur in 2007. Swahili dialects flourish along the southern Somali coast. Over the past few years, the language has found a broader audience in the region.
The Somali federal government has already made moves to bring Swahili into the national curriculum. This amendment will make sure that Swahili is now taught in schools and universities across the whole country. English is the primary language of instruction for all subjects in secondary school. Arabic is the only other required second language currently offered. Language of economic opportunity and regional integration By adopting Swahili, Somalia would certainly be bringing itself in line with its East African partners.
President Mohamud emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The country’s universities, especially the Somali National University, should focus more on developing the Swahili language, which is the language of East Africa.” He has even called for adopting Swahili, arguing that it is vital for Somalia’s integration into the region.
Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir went even further, claiming that Swahili could change how Somalis communicate with each other. He remarked, “We want to see Swahili become a language of communication, trade and learning – even replacing English during our next conference.” This expansive vision embodies the increasing awareness of Swahili’s impact outside of East Africa.
In Kenya’s education system, like in many others, Swahili has played a powerful, unifying role especially for people who have faced displacement. Hundreds of thousands of these refugees have gone on to pick up the Swahili language, immersing themselves in their new surrounding culture and environment. This trend underscores the language’s growing significance not just inside Somalia, but across borders in East Africa.
As Somalia makes this bold step toward educational reform, it readies itself for greater collaboration and connectivity with its regional neighbors. The program to teach Swahili supports the country’s push to increase trade and cooperation. Besides that, it brings out a strong national unity and cultural identity among the East African nations.
