China expands scholarships for students from Somalia

More than 150 Somali students have received full Chinese government scholarships, marking one of the largest such awards in recent years. They will pursue their studies at universities across China in fields including medicine and engineering.

For earlier recipients, the opportunity has already made a tangible difference back home.

One of them is Hilal Mohamed Noor, who received a Chinese government scholarship in 2015 and spent three years at Xi'an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi Province, specializing in emergency and critical care. He graduated in 2018 and has since returned to Somalia, where he is applying his training in the healthcare sector.

“I was one of the Chinese scholarship recipients in 2015. Now I work as the Deputy Director of one of the biggest emergency and critical care hospitals in Somalia, Madiina Hospital, and I am also a senior lecturer at a prestigious university, SIMAD University,” he said.

His story shows how the scholarships can strengthen Somalia's health sector.

At a ceremony on Sunday, August 16, more than 150 students from the latest cohort received their scholarship awards.

Among them is Sowdo Abdulkadir Ali, who will return to China in September to begin a master's degree in entomology.

Many of the new scholars see the opportunity as a way to gain advanced skills that they can later use to help develop Somalia.

Abdullahi Abdi Hashi, Chairperson of the Somalia-China Friendship Association, welcomed the news.

“As we work closely to strengthen relations between Somalia and China, we are extremely delighted and happy to see over 150 scholarships awarded to students. We are calling upon those who have been fortunate enough to receive this opportunity to become ambassadors for their country and learn more about other opportunities in the host country,” he said.

Support goes beyond education. Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Wang Yu noted that Somalia will take part for the first time in the China International Import Expo in November.

“In November, Somalia will for the first time take part in the China International Import Expo and will display its national excellence and resilience in Shanghai, China,” he said.

China has also offered zero-tariff access to help boost Somalia's economy. Officials on both sides expect closer cooperation in other areas too, including the sharing of Chinese technology and experience in tackling climate challenges such as food security, agriculture and flood control.

As ties between the two countries continue to grow, these scholarships are seen as an important investment in Somalia's future.