Somalia and Djibouti sign MoU to deepen higher education and research ties

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia and Djibouti on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in higher education and research, committing to academic exchanges, joint degree programs and stronger protections for intellectual property as the neighbors seek to invest in their young populations.

The agreement, signed in Mogadishu by Somalia’s Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, and Djibouti’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, establishes a formal framework for collaboration between universities and higher education institutions in both countries, officials said.

Framed as a step toward raising academic standards and building research capacity, the MoU aims to accelerate regional knowledge-sharing and align opportunities for students and scholars in the Horn of Africa. The ministers said the partnership builds on historic, fraternal ties and would help improve the quality of higher education in Somalia while opening broader avenues for cooperation with Djibouti’s institutions.

Key provisions of the higher education MoU

• Academic mobility and training: Student and faculty exchanges; short-term training; co-organization of conferences, workshops and academic seminars.
• Joint programs and recognition: Development of joint degree pathways at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels; streamlined scholarship arrangements; mutual recognition of academic qualifications.
• Research and intellectual property: Support for joint research programs and the protection of intellectual property generated through collaboration, consistent with national legislation and international agreements.

Officials described the MoU as part of broader efforts by Mogadishu and Djibouti to deepen strategic cooperation and invest in the future of younger generations through education and research. The agreement also provides a platform for institutions in both countries to pursue co-authored studies and shared curricula in areas prioritized by their governments.

While specific project timelines were not disclosed, the framework sets out mechanisms intended to lower administrative barriers for cross-border study and scholarship, including coordinated approaches to accreditation and credit transfer. By committing to mutual recognition of qualifications, the countries aim to make it easier for graduates to pursue further study or employment across their borders.

Somalia’s higher education sector has expanded in recent years, and officials say the Djibouti partnership can bolster quality assurance and research networks by connecting Somali universities with established regional peers. For Djibouti, the collaboration is expected to broaden its academic footprint and attract joint research that addresses shared development challenges, from public health to technology and teacher training.

The ministers said the agreement will create wider opportunities for students and faculty in both countries, emphasizing that safeguarding intellectual property is essential to fostering innovation and ensuring fair recognition of joint research outcomes.

Both governments presented the MoU as an investment in long-term stability, arguing that stronger universities and research ecosystems can support job creation, governance and regional cooperation. Officials said the next phase will focus on converting the framework into active institutional linkages through exchanges, joint curricula and co-hosted academic events.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.