Research Paper: Somali Students in the Soviet Union (1960-1978), Lyubov Ivanova, Bildhaan

Introduction

This article is the analysis of the beginning of Somali-Soviet contacts through the problems of Somali students who came to study in the Soviet Union starting from early 1960s. Their academic success or failure to complete studies and ability to adjust to the way of life in the Soviet Union became the result not only of their personal efforts but also political circumstances and social environment as a whole. Intercultural communication, friendship, misunderstanding or conflicts between Somali students and Soviet citizens became indicators of the psychological preparedness and cultural compatibility/incompatibility for interactions of both sides. Racial prejudices and high mutual expectations also had a great impact on establishing and developing contacts between people of the two countries.

The problems of African students in the Soviet Union have been occasionally discussed at the international conferences,1 by Russian and foreign scholars, there were numerous memoires published by students from African countries who once studied in the Soviet Union.

However, students from the Somali Republic have been mentioned rarely and disproportionally (considering the lack of evidence and archival materials) that in turn created their wrong image or misinterpretation of their behaviour. In this study, we will concentrate mainly on Somali students and situations they faced in the Soviet Union. Most documents and testimonies cited in the research are published for the first time.

The chronology of political events helps to trace the transformation of relations between Somalis and the Soviets and explain or foresee possible changes in modern Russia. The article is divided into three main parts. The first part is devoted to the establishing political contacts between the pre-Siyaad Barre regime and the Soviet Union and the arrival of the first Somali students. The second part concerns the problems of Somali students coming from the Socialist Somalia under Barre regime and growth of their confidence in the Soviet support and loyalty. The third part (the period of decline of Somali-Soviet relations due to Ogaden conflict) discusses achievements and failures of educational politics in the Soviet Union as well as peculiarities of Somali attitude to Soviet realities.

This research could help work out strategies for further cooperation between the Somali people and the Russian Federation in the sphere of culture and education for those engaged in this process – officials, public organizations, potential students, their teachers and so on.

Conclusion

The Somali Republic and the Soviet Union have had a very complicated history of establishing and developing relations: many successes and numerous failures; trust and distrust; and friendship and hostility. Somali students became instrumental in the different stages of the relations, as well as a tool in the communist and capitalist confrontation. Propaganda had a great impact on students’ hopes and expectations, and predetermined a number of conflicts and misunderstandings when they dealt with Soviet authorities and ordinary people. On the other hand, not all students were highly motivated to study hard and achieve success. Moreover, a new difficult language, in addition to the high standards of institutes and universities, required much concentration on studies. Furthermore, Soviet realities were different from what they were promised by Soviet propaganda and described by the media in capitalist countries. To be sure, Soviet people in general were friendly and tolerant with regard to students from developing countries. However, there were degrees of suspiciousness and prejudice at the same time. As for Somali students, they often exaggerated their demands for allowances and living conditions, despite the fact that they were better resourced than Soviet students.

Unfortunately, due to political circumstances, the relations between the SDR and the USSR that lasted about 20 years collapsed and never re-established again to its full capacity.

The relationship between the two peoples is yet to recover, notwithstanding the two decades of mutual collaboration. Today, the political orientations and strategic interests of both countries have changed. This situation requires new approaches. There is a serious gap in Somali studies in Russia, and business preferences of both sides are not clear and reliable. Still, there are a number of older Somalis who fluently speak Russian and seem to be ready to participate in making new connections.

Somali students in modern Russia are difficult to trace—they arrive privately and confidentially. Using internet resources, they choose an educational establishment on their own. Moreover, there is still a Somali Community in Moscow that helps regulate relations with Russian authorities and settle conflicts within Somali communities. Tuition fees in Russia remain comparatively low and that makes it attractive for foreign students. But it is not the Russian state that is interested in this anymore. On the contrary, it is various institutes and universities that, on their own, express keenness in attracting more foreign students in order to secure more funds.

Among those who come to Russia now are various groups of Somalis, not just students. The new arrivals include contract workers, scientific researchers, members of mixed families, asylum seekers, and transit migrants. As for Russians, their knowledge about Somalia and its people is improving. Slowly, some Russians are traveling to Somalia on business and as tourists. However, academic studies of Somalis is very rare. The research about Somalis in modern Russia is extremely limited. This demands different approaches that take into account different resources. This is particularly challenging to historians and social scientists, given the total lack of archival materials or documents. It must be said that archival documents cited in this article, including police reports, mostly mention negative aspects of Somalis in the USSR. Surely, there were other Somalis who studied with great dedication, behaved respectfully and, therefore, remained unnoticed and undocumented.

I hope this article will provoke discussions and urge Somalis to share their memories about their time in the Soviet Union and modern Russia, providing more balanced information and suggesting ways to improve connections between the two peoples.

Some well-known Somalis who studied in the Soviet Union

Abdiqasim Salad Hassan (born 1941) – President of Somalia (2000-2004), minister of internal affairs and minister of Finance in S. Barre Government. Graduated from Biology Department of Moscow State University.

Abdullahi Ahmed Irro – General, specialist in National Defense. Graduated from the Frunze Military academy.

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (1934-2012) – politician, a founder of Democratic Front for Salvation of Somali. Worked as a military attache in Somali Embassy in Moscow (1965- 1968), became the first president of Puntland. Served as a president of Somalia (2004- 2008). Graduated from Frunze Military Academy.

Ali Matan Hashi (1927-1978) – military leader, a general, a politician, a member of Supreme Revolutionary Council, the first Somali pilot. Studied in Frunze Military Academy and was commander in chief of Somali Air Forces.

Amina Mohamed Jibril (born 1961) – Kenyan-Somali diplomat and politician. Worked for WTO, WOM, UNO. Graduated from Kiev University, Department of International Relations.

Hawa Abdi – a Somali human rights activist, was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 2012. Studied in Moscow (1964-1971).

Jama Ali Jama – Colonel, a President of Puntland. Studied in Moscow. Mohamed Adam Ahmed (born 1950) – General, Commander in Chief of Somali Military Forces in 2015. Graduated from Frunze Military Academy.

Mohamed Farrah Hassan Aidid (1934-1996) – advisor in Barre Government, an ambassador to India, the chief of Somali Intelligence Service. Graduated from Frunze Military Academy.

Mohammad Ali Samatar (1931-2016) – Highest ranked General/Politician, Senior Vice Chairman of Supreme Revolutionary Council, Minister of Defense, and Prime Minister. Graduated from Frunze Military Academy.

Salaad Gabeyre Kediye (1933-1972) – revolutionary leader and a general of Somali National Army. Graduated from Frunze Military Academy.

Fowzia Y. Adan (born 1966) – minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia (2012-2014), studied medicine in Moscow.

Mustafa Mohamed Moalim (1943-2009) – Somali pilot, founded the first Aviation School in Somali and became its first director. Graduated from Kiev Air Forces Academy, also studied in Moscow.