Summary
Somalia will include Swahili in its national curriculum, as announced by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This change aims to strengthen ties with East Africa, where Swahili is widely spoken. The move is part of Somalia's efforts to integrate with the East African Community after joining the trading bloc.
Key Facts
- Somalia will introduce Swahili as part of its national curriculum for schools and universities.
- President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced this change at an East African Community summit in Mogadishu.
- Swahili is spoken by over 200 million people and is widely spoken in East Africa.
- Somalia officially joined the East African Community last year to promote economic growth.
- The Education Minister expressed desires for Swahili to become a language used for communication, trade, and learning nationwide.
- Swahili dialects are already spoken along Somalia's southern coast.
- African Union troops, who often speak Swahili, have been present in Somalia since 2007.
- Currently, English is the main language of instruction in Somalia's schools, with Arabic also compulsory.
