Somalia counts on Al-Azhar students to combat terrorism

In a way to de-escalate the ongoing terrorist attacks in Somalia, the government moved forward counting on al-Azhar students to help stop the bloodshed of violence via rehabilitating dissidents from the Somali youth movement al-Shabaab.

On September 21, 2018, The World Organization for Al-Azhar Graduates in Mogadishu held a  meeting with Somali tribal leaders to discuss ways of countering extremist ideology. Also, in April 2018, the organization arranged a series of meetings with other concerned bodies and officials.

Titled  "Moderation in Building the Islamic Personality", a symposium was held the and attended by 150 young dissidents from militant Al-Shabab movement to address their extremist ideologies.

Scientific cooperation

In his meeting with Egyptian ambassador to Somalia in September 2017, Grand Mufti of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb ordered to increase the number of educational scholarships offered by Al-Azhar to the students of Somalia.

Moreover, ambassador Walid Ismail asked Al-Azhar to provide Somalia with an Islamic library includes moderate Islamic books.

In August 2016, then deputy of Al-Azhar Abbas Shoman met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somali Saad Ali Shire to tackle ways of enhancing Egypt’s support to Somalia scientifically and religiously.

“Al-Azhar is trying to immunize young Muslims from being lured by extremist ideology. It pays a great attention to Somalia due to the exceptional situations it [Somalia] faces, said Ahmed al-Tayed in his meeting with President of the Somali Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari In October 2017.

Additionally, Al-Azhar sends medical and humanitarian convoys to treat patients and needy Somalis, he added.

Jawari stated that his country has strong relation with Al-Azhar for many centuries, adding that Somalia has suffered in recent years from the extremist ideas that affected the stability of society.

Somali Students in Cairo

Al-Azhar called on the members of the Association of Somali Students in Cairo to enhance their roles against violence and extremist ideology.

Mohammed Abdul-Fadel al-Qoussi, vice president of the association said at a ceremony for Somali students studying in Al-Azhar that the task of Al-Azhar's sons in Somalia is more difficult.

Head of the association branch in Somalia Mukhtar Mohammed Yousif, said during the ceremony that the branch is a cultural, social and non-governmental educational institution that helps people affected by natural and human disasters.

The Association is seeking to rehabilitate the Azhar institutes in Somalia and to establish new institutes and educational centers to teach moderate Islamic teachings, he added.