The Global Somali Diaspora held its annual summit on 28-29 November. The problems faced by the Somali diaspora were discussed and solutions were sought at the summit organized with the support of Yunus Emre Institute. The summit highlighted Somalia's development in recent years, and underlined the bonds of friendship between Somalia and Turkey.

The Global Somali Diaspora held its annual summit on 28-29 November. Supported by Yunus Emre Institute, the summit highlighted the fraternity and cooperation between Somalia and Turkey, and addressed the problems of Somalians in Somalia and around the world as well as the solutions to those problems for a stronger Somalia. The event was attended by Turkish and Somalian ambassadors, key figures of the Global Somali Diaspora, Somalis from different professions supporting the diaspora, heads of civil society organizations and artists. The summit was held online this year due to restrictions imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Somalian musician Abdi Badil gave a mini concert at the summit where art events were also performed. In addition, multimedia artist Ifrah Mansour exhibited her work. Famous Somalian-British musician Aar Manta sang his songs with his band on the second day of the event.

The participants at the International Annual Online Summit of Global Somali Diaspora included, among others, H.E. Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of Somalia; H.E. Jama Abdullahi Mohamed, Ambassador of Somali to Turkey; H.E. Ben Fender, OBE, British Ambassador to Somalia; H.E. Ali Said Faqi, Speaker of Southwestern State Parliament of Somalia; H.E. Deniz Çakar, Turkish Ambassador; Prof. Şeref Ateş, President of Yunus Emre Institute; H.E. Mehmet Yılmaz, Ambassador of Turkey to Somalia; and Mehmet Karakuş, Director of Yunus Emre Institute in London. Dr. Suad Mohamed of GSD moderated the two-day event.

"THE SOMALI SPIRIT WILL GROW STRONGER"

The program started with the Quran recitation by Kenyan hafiz Mahir Muhammed Al Yamani.

Jawaahir Daahir, Chair of Global Somali Diaspora, started her speech by condemning the terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 8 people and injured 10 others in Mogadishu on 27 November 2020, and expressed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Daahir thanked Yunus Emre Institute for their support to Global Somali Diaspora and Somalia, and said that the Somali spirit would grow stronger.

SUSTAINABLE REMEDIES NEEDED

In his speech, Somalian Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble expressed his regret for the terrorist attack in Mogadishu. In his speech, Prime Minister Roble stated that young people constituted a significant part of the Somalian population. Stating that young children were affected by global environmental problems, Roble reminded that environmental problems would take effect in the next 10 years according to the United Nations report on human rights and the environment. Stating that the Somali diaspora had a lot to do to build a better future for the Somalian youth, Roble said that sustainable remedies were needed to that end.

TURKEY STANDS BY SOMALIA

Ambassador Deniz Çakar, General Director of Overseas Promotion and Cultural Affairs, firstly condemned the terrorist attacks that killed 8 people in Somalia on 27 November 2020. Çakır expressed her regret for those who lost their lives and conveyed her condolences to all families. She thanked Global Somali Diaspora and Yunus Emre Institute for the success of the conference held last year in Istanbul, and said that such cooperation was a sign of the brotherhood between GSD and YEI. Çakar stated that it could be possible to support Turkey's scholarship opportunities for Somalian students as well as the Somalian schools that could be opened in Turkey. She added that the YEI center at Mogadishu continued to teach Turkish and that Turkey had been supporting development in the region in recent years. Noting that the steps taken by Somalia had assumed a serious positive character through political changes, Çakar drew attention to the steps taken in the fields of education, culture, healthcare and security to ensure stability in the country. Deniz Çakar stressed that Turkey stood by Somalia for the latter's unity. She expressed that certain steps were required to ensure security and that the exchange of knowledge at the summit would pave the way for a better future.

H.E. Jama Abdullahi Mohamed, Ambassador of Somalia to Ankara, urged the Somalian youth to invest in Somalia, emphasizing that the Somalian economy grew by 2.9 percent in 2019, with inflation decreasing and prices falling in 2019 compared to 2018. He stated that the Embassy of Somalia in Ankara and the Somali diaspora in Turkey supported those who wanted to invest in Somalia. Stating that they planned to open a Somalian school in Turkey, Mohamed said they focused on making sure that school was a sustainable one.

SOMALİ DİASPORASINDA DÜNYA İÇİN ÖNEMLİ ŞAHSİYETLER VAR

H.E. Ben Fender, OBE, British Ambassador to Somalia, expressed his regret for the terrorist attack on 27 November and offered his condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives. Congratulating GSD for holding the summit, Fender expressed his appreciation for the Somali Diaspora in the UK for the rebuilding and development of Somalia. The British Ambassador stated that women were the backbone of NGOs and expressed his support for such role of women. Stating that Somalis worked in many areas of the economy in the UK, Fender emphasized that Somalian doctors and nurses used their experience and knowledge to help Somalians. He said that Somalian nurses returned to their countries to take care of patients in hospitals in Somalia and noted that Somalians were working hard for a better future and for the rebuilding and development of Somalia. Stating that Somalia had established ties with the rest of the world, Ben Fender, OBE stated that the Somalian economy had improved in recent years, that the Somali Diaspora had made great efforts for that cause and that he appreciated the work Somalian businessmen did in the UK for the future of their country. Stating that Global Somali Diaspora included artists, designers and key global people, Fender congratulated the Global Somali Diaspora for their efforts.

"WE SHOULD ACT AS MENTORS OF THE SOMALIAN YOUTH"

H.E. Ali Said Faqi, Ambassador of Somalia to Belgium and the European Union, expressed his regret for those who lost their lives due to the terrorist attack in Mogadishu. Stating that Somalia had been making progress in every field, Faqi expressed that Somalia was making investments not only financially but also for the development of the country in other fields. Stating that they were trying to help young people who came from Somalia to Europe, Faqi expressed that if guidance and mentoring were not provided, the Somalian youth could be lost. Underlining that it was a responsibility they should take, Faqi stated that there were many successful girls in education in the Somali diaspora and that they encouraged young girls and boys to be successful in education. Faqi said that they were pulling out all the stops with the diaspora for the establishment of peace.

TURKISH-SOMALIAN BROTHERHOOD WILL GROW STRONGER

Prof. Şeref Ateş, President of Yunus Emre Institute, initially talked about the activities of YEI during his speech at the summit. He stated that YEI was founded in Ankara and worked to spread Turkey's history, culture and language. Prof. Ateş expressed that they reached not only Turkish communities but also other nations through their 60 centers. Prof. Ateş noted that the world was constantly changing and that there were serious problems threatening our planet in recent years, adding that racism, Islamophobia and the situation of internally displaced persons were important problems. Prof. Ateş said YEI built platforms for discussion and offered solutions to various problems, with the sincerity of their efforts paving the way for further cooperation. Ateş underlined the fact that YEI supported the delegation work of GSD and stated that these fruitful relations would strengthen the ties between Somalia and Turkey. 

Mohamad Abdiker, Regional Director at the International Organization for Migration Regional Office for the East and Horn of Africa, noted that immigrants from Somalia travelled to Yemen and Western countries. Emphasizing that Somalian immigrants were the target of human traffickers, Abdiker said that irregular migration should be paid attention in that sense.

SOMALIA NEEDS INVESTMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

On the second day of the program, Dr. Idil Abdi Osman, Assistant Professor of Media and Communication at University of Leicester, took the floor. She said that the educational opportunities Turkey offered to Somalian students helped them develop their human and social capital and supported them to build their careers. Osman said that such support would provide an important accumulation of knowledge and experience for future generations.

Mehmet Yılmaz, Turkish Ambassador in Mogadishu, said Global Somali Diaspora had come a long way since 2010. Noting that Somalia needed investment, employment and development, Yılmaz said that they were trying to encourage Turkish businessmen to invest in Somalia and that more Turkish businessmen would come to Somalia since Somalia offered certain business opportunities.

PRESIDENT ERDOGAN'S 2011 VISIT TO MOGADISHU WAS A TURNING POINT

H.E. Jama Mohamed Aidid, Ambassador of Somalia to Turkey, said one single meeting would not suffice to fit Turkey-Somalia relations into. Ambassador Mehmet Yılmaz stated that they worked shoulder to shoulder with Jama Mohamed Aidid, and stressed that Somalia and Turkey had fraternal ties. Mohamed said that Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the capital Mogadishu in 2011 was a historical turning point in terms of the relations between the two countries, and added that he wanted to write a book about these historical visits because those visits hosted very important events. 

Aidid also talked about the military equipment support by Turkey to Somalia. Aidid said the Turkish Ministries of Health, Defense and Foreign Affairs worked together to send that support and underlined Turkey's support to Somalia.

TURKISH AND SOMALI DIASPORA SHOULD UNITE IN BUSINESS

Mehmet Karakuş, Director of Yunus Emre Institute in London, noted that GSD was an organization representing Somalians around the world. Stating that GSD prioritized civil initiatives, Karakuş congratulated GSD for that. Karakuş also stated that economic relations should be institutionalized and noted that he worked voluntarily on the matter and that an agreement to be signed between governments was among the possible options. Stating that YEI and GSD mutually shared their experience, Karakuş said there were Turkish businessmen operating in the UK. Karakuş also brought up the idea of an umbrella structure that would bring Somalian and Turkish businessmen together. Karakuş said that would allow for discussions on import and export business lines. Stating that YEI was supported by the state, Karakuş noted that Turkish diaspora was active in different countries and that the Somali diaspora was also strong in the same countries. Mehmet Karakuş underlined that the relations regarding Somali diaspora and Turkish diaspora could become stronger.

SOLUTION-FOCUSED PANELS ON EMPLOYMENT, MIGRATION ISSUES, YOUTH AND IDENTITY

During the panel on the first day of the program, problems faced by Somalians such as unemployment and migration were discussed. The panel titled “Youth, Education and Finding a Job” hosted discussions on factors such as job opportunities awaiting Somalians, factors causing unemployment, talent management, higher education, and the development of communication skills. The events covered success stories and welcomed speakers from different business lines such as Mohamed Bashir Osman, a member of Young Somalian Businessmen and Owner of Da'uus Advertising Agency.

A panel titled "Diaspora, Youth, Language, Identity and Belonging" was also held on the first day of the program.

Panels titled "Environment: Civil Conflict and Its Impact on Society", "Youth and Civic Engagement" and "Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment" were held on the second day of the program.