A building destroyed during the 2022 attacks on the Somalian Ministry of Education. Photo Credit: Human Rights Watch
Somalian professors interviewed by University World News stated that due to the increased intensity of armed conflict between the Somalian army and non-state armed forces in the country, some universities might have to suspend all activities soon.
The overlapping conflicts and crises have led to a multiplicity of structural factors limiting access to education in Somalia. Currently, it is estimated that 4 million people have been internally displaced due to armed conflict, scarcity of food and climate crises.
In 2022, the Somalian government launched a new offensive against armed militant groups, exacerbating the societal impact of conflict. As the threat of armed conflict increased, universities have started to take additional security precautions, which have led to increases in tuition for students. Schools have also started to resort to online education as a solution as they advise students to stay away from urban centers that might be sites of attack. Both higher tuition costs and increased reliance on online education significantly limit access to higher education.
In addition to the indirect impacts of armed conflict on academic freedom, higher education institutions have also been directly impacted. GCPEA has identified at least 40 attacks on schools in 2022 and 2023, which included mortar shells, bombs and improvised explosive devices. On October 29, 2022, Al-Shabaab, as Islamist militant group active in the region, detonated two bombs outside of the Ministry of Education building as students and their families were there to collect diplomas.[1] Within the same reporting period, individual students and teachers have also been attacked by different groups. The 42 attacks in this period were mostly perpetrated by non-state actors, who have repeatedly killed or abducted students and teachers. But police forces of the Somalian government have also been involved in violence against students and teachers. On October 14, 2023, the police fired live bullets on a group of student protestors after a “clash” occurred.[2]
Somalia is a signatory to the “Safe Schools Declaration”, in which governments declare their commitment to protecting schools and universities from attack and upholding the academic freedom of students, teachers and professors. However, since October 2015, when the Somalian government endorsed the declaration, armed conflict has persistently threatened education in the country.
Endangered Scholars Worldwide (ESW) is deeply concerned about the threats to academic freedom posed by the ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crises in Somalia. We call on the government of Somalia to ensure the safety of students and teachers, which it has guaranteed under the Safe Schools Declaration. We further call on the members of the international community devoted to upholding human rights globally to join our call.
Sources and further reading:
[1] Education Under Attack 2024. (2024). Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack. (p. 180) https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/eua_2024.pdf
[2] Education Under Attack 2024. (2024). Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack. (pp. 180-181) https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/eua_2024.pdf
Comments