Federico Donelli, Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Trieste, was recently a guest at the Somali National University of Mogadisco (SNU), where he did a lecture for the students.

An official event in the academic field, Federico Donelli's lecture was the first by a visiting professor since the beginning of the Somali civil war, which has been taking place for over three decades.

In his speech, Donelli addressed recent political and security developments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden area, with a particular focus on the constant intertwining of local, regional and global dimensions. Within this framework of general change, the area is being affected by local instability and fueled by regional and global rivalries and alliances.

Donelli deals with international security with a focus on the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, and for several years has concentrated on the Red Sea region. “Travelling frequently for research purposes, I have been several times to Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland and Kenya. The area is, more than ever, of high geostrategic importance not only as a result of the Gaza war, but also in preparation for future global balance in the Indo-Pacific", explains the UniTS professor.

The SNU, while operating in a context of conflict and economic and political instability, continues to promote education as key to providing a future for the country and many of its young people.

‘The situation in Mogadishu remains critical,’ says Donelli, ‘but the most important aspect is the population’s constant effort to take action against the crisis. This strength was evident among SNU colleagues and students who took an active part in the post-lecture debate.’

Professor Donelli’s lecture, introduced by SNU Rector Hassan Osman Ga’al, was also attended by Italian Ambassador Pier Mario Daccò Coppi and his staff, who expressed appreciation for the University of Trieste’s commitment to Somalia.

The UniTS teacher’s invitation is part of a growing cooperation between the University of Trieste and SNU, who have been connected since 2015 by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities.

The commitment of Italian cooperation in Somalia in the field of science diplomacy started with a series of projects launched around 2012 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project has worked with and still involves several Italian universities, including Sapienza University of Rome, Polytechnic University of Milan and the University of Pavia, and many others.

In the context of these projects, the mandate for Italian universities has always been that of the reconstruction and support of the Somali National University. UniTS has been specifically entrusted with its partnership with the Faculty of Economics. In this context, Italian universities have provided support through teaching materials, technology and skills transfers at various levels with SNU staff, from the Rector to the students. The current Rector of SNU, Hassan Osman Ga'al, visited the University of Trieste for a semester in 2018, while Somali students had the opportunity to attend courses offered by UniTS thanks to scholarships funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

Now a new phase of connection with Somalia is starting, involving a move from national cooperation to regional cooperation. In February 2024, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the University of Trieste were visited by the Rector of the SNU and a delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Education. It was composed of Somali parliamentarians and members of the SAGAL association, including members of the Somali diaspora, to discuss possible collaboration agreements.

In addition to opening up important academic opportunities, this new collaboration with our region is a welcome sign of continuity for many of the main teachers of the Somali University, including the current rector and his predecessor, who obtained their PhDs in Friuli Venezia Giulia and have maintained a strong link with the region which has welcomed them so openly in the past.