Somali National University (SNU) ( so, Jaamacadda Ummadda Soomaaliyeed, ar, الجامعة الوطنية الصومالية, it, Università Nazionale Somala) is a
national university
A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state.
Some national universities are associated with national cultural or po ...
in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port ...
, the capital of
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. Its campus grounds were located four kilometers from the
Mogadishu International Airport
Aden Adde International Airport ( so, Garoonka Caalamiga Ee Aadan Cadde, ar, مطار آدم عدي الدولي) , formerly known as Mogadishu International Airport, is an international airport serving Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. It ...
(Aden Adde International Airport). It was established in 1971, but was "officially" founded in 1954. It closed in 1990. After closing down for a number of years, the university reopened in August 2014.
History
General
The Somali National University was established in 1954 as ''Università Nazionale Somala'', under Italian U.N. Trusteeship over Italy's former Italian colony in East Africa of Italian Somaliland. In 1960, Somalia became an independent nation in the
Trust Territory of Somalia
The Trust Territory of Somaliland, officially the "Trust Territory of Somaliland under Italian administration" ( it, Amministrazione fiduciaria italiana della Somalia), was a United Nations Trust Territory situated in present-day Somalia. Its ca ...
. It obtained official university status in 1969 and the language initially used was only
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
.
In 1983, nine out of the twelve faculties in the Somali National University used Italian as the language of instruction,
but after 1990 only Somali and English were used.
The main university grounds were situated about six kilometers from the city center. Here, during the institution's first thirty years, the main campus was known as ''Jaamacada Gaheyr'' ("Gaheyr University").
Country Higher Education Profiles - Somalia
In 1973, under the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC), programs and facilities were expanded. The SNU developed over the next twenty years into an institution of higher learning, with 13 departments, 700 staff and over 15,000 students.
Under the Somali revolutionary government, the Ministry of Higher Learning and Culture established research centers in a number of cities, with the goal of developing regional economies. These learning centers were earmarked for employees from such ministries as the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Livestock and Forestry Management.
In the mid-1970s, the teaching college of Lafoole University
Lafoole University, sometimes referred to as Lafoole College, is a teaching institution in Lafoole, Afgooye District, situated in the Lower Shebelle region in southern Somalia.
Background
Lafoole University, Somalia's premier teacher training col ...
, one of SNU's remote campuses, was made a stand-alone institution ("Lafoole Teacher's College"). The language of instruction was English.
Due to extensive damage to its facilities as well as the difficulty of holding classes and acquiring books and other necessities in the wake of the civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
in the early 1990s, classes at the university were suspended.
Language of instruction
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
was the Somali National University's primary language of instruction. The university's main campus was situated in Mogadishu, where residents were already familiar with the Italian language.
From 1973 onward, Somali and English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
were introduced as additional languages of instruction. All programs at Lafoole College were taught in English. Across the country, there were programs in ''Af Soomaali'' run by the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education, the government ministry responsible for scholastic instruction.
When the Somali linguist
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
Shire Jama Ahmed
; 1936-1999) was a Somali linguist and a scholar. He is notable for his contribution to the creation of the modern Latin script for transcribing the Somali language.
Early years
Shire was born in the Dusamareeb region of Somalia to a Marehan fam ...
's modified Latin script was chosen by the Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 199 ...
administration as the nation's official orthography
An orthography is a set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, word breaks, emphasis, and punctuation.
Most transnational languages in the modern period have a writing system, and mos ...
, Somali language courses began to spring up throughout the country. The language of instruction in primary and secondary schools also became Somali.
Relaunch
On 14 November 2013, the former Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon "Saacid" and the his cabinet approved a federal government plan to reopen the Somali National University. The refurbishing initiative cost US$55.2 million. On 16 August 2014, the federal government officially re-opened the Somali National University at a meeting of the Board of the University. The event was chaired by former President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ( so, Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud, ar, حسن شيخ محمود; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022. He is the founder and current chairman of the Union for P ...
, who serves as the head of the university's committee in charge of the curriculum, budget dispensation and faculties.
On 18 September 2014, about 480 pupils took the university's entry exams, which were supervised by the Chairman of the Somali National University Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale and the Deputy Minister of Culture and Higher Education Mohamed Ahmed Kulan. In October 2014, Speaker of the Federal Parliament
The Parliament of Australia (officially the Federal Parliament, also called the Commonwealth Parliament) is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It consists of three elements: the monarch (represented by the governor-gen ...
Mohamed Osman Jawari
Mohamed Osman Jawari ( so, Maxamed Cismaan Jawaari, ar, محمد عثمان جواري) (born December 7, 1945 in Afgoi, Somalia), also known as Mohamed Jawari or Osman Jawari, is a Somali attorney and politician. He is former Speaker of the Fede ...
and Minister of Culture and Higher Education Duale Adan Mohamed
Duale Adan Mohamed ( so, Ducale Aadan Maxamed, ar, دوالي عدن محمد) is a Somali politician. He served as the Minister of Culture and Higher Education of Somalia under Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. Duale Adan Mohamed succeeded ...
officially inaugurated the first academic year of the Somali National University.
Campuses
The Somali National University had four main campuses:
* Gaheyr – Mogadishu at KM 6
* Digfeer – Medical school near Digfeer Hospital in Mogadishu
* Lafoole Teaching College – Lafoole.
* Polytechnic College at KM 4, Mogadishu
The first campus, Gaheyr, opened in 1971 and was located at KM 6 (on the Afgooye Road, 6 km from downtown Mogadishu). There were also new expansion buildings across from Gaheyr Campus. The new buildings took some years to complete and were situated on the other side of the Afgoi road, facing Gaheyr.
Most of the new buildings had some sort of circular design to them, and the engineer who designed them was unofficially nicknamed "Engineer O" by the students.
Faculties and departments
The Somali National University formerly had 14 departments:
* Department of Sharia Law
* Department of Linguistics (Somali, Arabic, English, German, Italian)
* Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry
* College of Education (Teaching College at Lafoole; 20 km west of Mogadishu)
* Department of Agriculture
* Department of Geology and Mining
* Department of Medicine (College of Medicine; near Digfeer Hospital)
* Department of Chemical/Industrial Engineering
* Faculty of Economics
* Faculty of Law
* Department of Engineering
* Faculty of Political science and Journalism
* Technical and Commercial Teachers' College (formerly called Technical Teachers' College), Known as "Polytechnic College" located at KM 4, Mogadishu.
* Institute of Development Administration & Management
Notable alumni
Notable alumni of the Somali National University include:
*Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ( so, Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud, ar, حسن شيخ محمود; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022. He is the founder and current chairman of the Union for P ...
- President of Somalia
*Ahmed Ibrahim Awale
Ahmed Ibrahim Awale () is a Somali environmentalist, botanist and author. He is an environmentalist with more than two decades of experience. He is the chairman of thSomaliland Biodiversity Foundation as well as Candlelight for Environment, Edu ...
– environmentalist and author
* Professor Ahmed Mumin Warfa -Somali Scientist and Scholar on Plant Taxonomy and Botany.
*Abdirahman Mohamud Farole
Abdirahman Mohamud Farole ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Maxamuud Faroole; ar, عبد الرحمن محمد; born 1945) is a Somali politician. He served for many years in the government, acting as a governor of the Nugal region of Somalia in the 1990s a ...
– former President of Puntland
*Abdi Farah Shirdon
Abdi Farah Shirdon ( so, Cabdi Faarax Shirdoon; ar, عبدي فارح شردون; born 1958) is a Somali businessman, economist and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Somalia between October 2012 and December 2013. Shirdon is credited ...
Former Prime Minister of Somalia
* – President of Puntland, and former Prime Minister of Somalia
*Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed ( so, Cabdiweli Sheekh Axmed, ar, عبدالولي الشيخ أحمد; born 1959), also known as Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohammad, is a Somali economist and politician. He previously worked in the Somali military governmen ...
– former Prime Minister of Somalia
*Saad Ali Shire
Dr. Saad Ali Shire Naleye ( so, Dr. Sacad Cali Shire Naaleeye) is British- Somaliland politician, agronomist and economist, who is currently serving as the Minister of Finance of Somaliland. Shire formerly served as the Foreign Minister of Somal ...
– current Minister of Finance of Somaliland, former Foreign Minister of Somaliland, and former Minister of Planning of Somaliland
*Abdulqawi Yusuf
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf ( so, Cabdulqaawi Axmed Yuusuf) is a Somali lawyer and judge serving on the International Court of Justice since 2009. He served as the court's president from 2018 to 2021.
Early life
Yusuf was born in the northeastern t ...
– international lawyer and judge with the International Court of Justice
*Ali Mohammed Ghedi
Ali Mohammed Gedi ( so, Cali Maxamed Geeddi, ar, علي محمد جيدي) (born 2 October 1952), popularly known as Ali Gedi, was the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia from 2004 to 2007. He was relatively un ...
– former Prime Minister of Somalia
*Ali Said Faqi
Ali Said Faqi ( so, Cali Saiid Fakhi, ar, علي سعيد فقي) is a Somali people, Somali scientist specializing in toxicology and a diplomat. A leading researcher in his field, he has numerous scientific papers and also authored a book enti ...
– scientist and leading researcher in toxicology
*Asha Gelle Dirie
Asha Gelle Dirie ( so, Caasha Geelle Diriye, ar, آشا جيلي ديري) is a Somali politician and civil society activist. From 2005 to 2012, she served as the Minister of Women Development and Family Affairs of the autonomous Puntland regio ...
– former Minister of Women Development and Family Affairs of Puntland
*Asha Haji Elmi
Asha Haji Elmi ( so, Caasha Xaaji Cilmi, ar, عائشة حاجي علمي) (born 1962) is a Somali politician and peace activist. As of August 2012, she is a former member of the Federal Parliament of Somalia.
Background
Elmi was born in 1962 ...
– peace activist and MP
* Asha Jama – Somali-Canadian activist
*Faysal Ali Warabe
Faysal Ali Warabe ( ; so, Faysal Cali Waraabe, ar, فيصل علي ورابي; born 1948), also spelled Faisal Ali Warabe, is a Somaliland, Somalilander engineer and politician. He previously served as Director of Planning and Building as well a ...
– Chairman of the For Justice and Development
The Justice and Welfare Party ( so, Ururka Caddaalada iyo Daryeelka, UCID; ar, حزب العدالة والتنمية), sometimes translated as the Justice and Welfare Association, is the oldest political party in Somaliland. The party tends to b ...
(UCID) political party
*Hawa Abdi
Hawa Abdi Dhiblawe ( so, Xaawo Cabdi, ar, حواء عبدي, 17 May 19475 August 2020) was a Somali people, Somali human rights activist and physician. She was the founder and chairperson of the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation (DHAF), a non-profit orga ...
– humanitarian and physician
*Hassan Abshir Farah
Hassan Abshir Farah ( so, Xasan Abshir Faarax, ar, حسن ابشير فرح; June 20, 1945 – July 12, 2020) was a Somali politician. He previously served as mayor of Mogadishu and interior minister of Puntland. From November 12, 2001 to Novem ...
– former Prime Minister of Somalia
*Hassan Ismail Yusuf
Hassan Ismail Yusuf ( so, Xasan Ismaaciil Yuusuf) is a Somaliland politician, He served as Minister of Health and Labor of Somaliland in 2002 and as Ministry of Health (Somaliland), Minister of Health of Somaliland, from December 2017 to April 20 ...
– former Minister of Health of Somaliland
Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
*Jama Musse Jama
Jama Musse Jama ( so, Jaamac Muuse Jaamac, ar, جامع موسى جامع) (b. 1967) is a prominent Somali ethnomathematician and author. He is notable for his research on traditional Somali boardgames such as Shax.
Biography
Jama was bor ...
– ethnomathematician, author, founding director of Hargeysa International Book Fair, Somaliland
Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
.
* Wei Hongtian – Former Ambassador of China to Somalia
Notes
{{Authority control
1954 establishments in Somalia
Educational institutions established in 1954
Universities in Somalia
Universities in Mogadishu