The UN University for peace marked another historical achievement following the signing of the instrument of accession by Somali President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The move means that the Somali Government has officially endorsed the UPEACE Charter and is expected to implement it.
Reacting to the news, the university’s country representative Dr. Mohamed Osman said the decision by the president is a welcome development.
“This is highly welcome news, and it puts the university’s Somalia branch at the same level with the rest of the countries that have signed the charter,” said Dr. Osman
“The students will also benefit from various scholarships offered by the institution,” added Dr. Osman.
Somalia’s President, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamed, signed the instrument of accession while attending the 77th UN General Assembly, making Somalia the 42nd country to sign the charter.
The University for Peace was established in December 1980 with Headquarters in Costa Rica and Regional Programmes in Africa (Ethiopia), Europe (Netherlands), Asia (China), South East Asia (Philippines), and South America (Honduras).
Before the program was introduced to Somalia in August 2018, students would travel to the Africa Regional campus in Ethiopia or the main campus in Costa Rica to take UPeace courses.
“The signing of the UPEACE Charter by the president is yet another huge step for the university, and we hope it opens doors for expansion in Somalia and for many students to enroll in the courses offered by the university,” said Dr. Mohamed Yusuf, UPEACE Somalia Country Director.
The establishment of the university in Costa Rica played a pivotal role in establishing the first base. In Africa, the university launched its Africa Regional Programme in 2002 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It opened doors to thousands of African students keen on pursuing courses related to peace, security and development.
UPEACE will be organizing its next graduation ceremony in Somalia at the end of October 2022, with more than a hundred Masters and at least ten doctoral students expected to receive their Degrees.
