Somalia Adds Swahili to National Curriculum to Strengthen Regional Ties

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says embracing Swahili will deepen East African integration and expand opportunities for trade, communication and education.

Somalia has announced plans to introduce Swahili the most widely spoken language in East Africa into its national education curriculum. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made the declaration during a summit of the East African Community (EAC) in Mogadishu, emphasizing that the move is central to Somalia’s goal of regional integration and development.

A Step Toward East African Unity
President Mohamud highlighted that teaching Swahili in schools and universities will help Somalia align more closely with its EAC partners. “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 stated. Somalia officially joined the eight-nation EAC in 2023, seeking to strengthen economic, cultural, and political ties after decades of instability.

Expanding Language Learning Beyond English and Arabic
Currently, Somalia’s education system uses English as the main language of instruction at secondary and higher education levels, while Arabic serves as the only compulsory second language. With the new reform, Swahili will join English and Arabic as a key language of study. Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir expressed the government’s ambitions, saying, “We want to see Swahili become a language of communication, trade, and learning even replacing English during our next conference.”

Swahili’s Global and Regional Importance

Swahili, spoken by over 200 million people, ranks among the world’s 10 most widely used languages. It serves as the lingua franca of East Africa, connecting communities across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. By adopting Swahili, Somalia aims to increase cooperation and trade with its neighbors while fostering stronger people to people ties within the EAC.

Historical Roots and Growing Influence of Swahili in Somalia
Though not new to Somalia, Swahili has long been spoken along the southern coastal regions and has spread more widely in recent decades. Civil conflict that began in 1991 forced hundreds of thousands of Somalis to seek refuge in Kenya, where many learned Swahili through the Kenyan education system. As peace has gradually returned to parts of Somalia, many of these fluent speakers have come back home, contributing to the language’s growing presence.

African Union Troops and the Spread of Swahili
Another factor in Swahili’s rise has been the long-term presence of African Union troops deployed in Somalia since 2007. These soldiers, who hail from various East African nations, often use Swahili as their common language. Their presence has helped normalize Swahili communication within Somali communities, especially in urban areas and regions under government control.

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A Shift in Somalia’s Education Policy
Until 2016, Somalia used Arabic as the main language of instruction in primary schools, while English dominated secondary and tertiary education. The current curriculum now prioritizes Somali for primary education and English for higher levels. The addition of Swahili marks another shift toward linguistic inclusivity and regional alignment, reflecting Somalia’s broader goal of reintegration into the East African community after decades of isolation.

A Symbol of Integration and Progress
By embracing Swahili, Somalia is signaling its readiness to play a larger role in East Africa’s future. The initiative is not just about language it represents a bridge to stronger cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and economic partnership. As President Mohamud put it, “Adopting Swahili is important for our integration into the region.”