Minister Robow and Diyanet Chief Agree to Expand Islamic Education and Waqf Development

ANKARA — Somalia’s Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Mukhtaar Roobow Ali, has held a high-level meeting with the President of Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, in Ankara to expand bilateral cooperation in Islamic education, religious endowments, and institutional capacity-building.

The meeting, which took place at Diyanet’s headquarters on Monday, August 5, 2026, focused on strengthening institutional ties, including Turkish support for the establishment and development of Somalia’s Zakat Fund and Waqf (endowment) system. Somalia and Turkey have previously deepened ties on religious affairs and education, with Diyanet delegations reaffirming their readiness to increase collaboration and noting that Somalia holds a significant place in Turkey’s global humanitarian and religious outreach programmes. The discussions also covered joint projects to improve religious services, community outreach programmes, and the training of ministry personnel.

Somali Ambassador to Turkey, Fatxudiin Cali Maxamed, also attended the meeting.

Focus on Zakat Fund and Waqf System

A central focus of the talks was Turkey’s continued support for the establishment of Somalia’s Zakat Fund and the development of a national Waqf system. Minister Robow has previously noted the need to establish an Endowments Agency and a Zakat Registry Fund, as well as to train experts and ministry staff to manage these institutions.

According to officials, the two sides agreed to expand collaboration in Islamic education, religious services, institutional development, and public awareness programmes, while strengthening technical cooperation to support the establishment and management of Somalia’s Zakat Fund and Waqf institutions.

President Arpaguş reaffirmed Diyanet’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s priority programmes in religious affairs, while Minister Robow welcomed the expanded partnership, saying it would help strengthen the country’s religious institutions and advance reforms within the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

Memorandum of Understanding and Next Steps

The talks also reinforced cooperation between the two institutions ahead of the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to provide a formal framework for collaboration in religious affairs, Islamic education, training, and institutional development.

Recently, Somalia’s Council of Ministers approved a draft bill to ratify the agreement between Diyanet and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. The legislation is expected to be submitted to parliament for consideration before the MoU enters into force.

The partnership with Diyanet is expected to provide Somalia with access to Turkey’s experience in administering religious institutions and charitable endowments, while helping develop sustainable mechanisms to support education, social welfare, and community development.

Wider Context: Somalia-Turkey Relations

The latest agreement reflects the expanding relationship between Somalia and Turkey, which has broadened beyond humanitarian assistance and security cooperation to include education, institutional development, maritime affairs, and economic investment. Turkey has been one of Somalia’s most trusted international partners, investing heavily in the country’s security sector and providing multifaceted assistance that has significantly contributed to stabilisation efforts.

For Somalia, strengthening the governance of religious institutions has become part of wider state-building efforts aimed at improving transparency in the management of zakat and waqf assets, enhancing the delivery of religious services, and supporting moderate Islamic education. Officials say international partnerships will play an important role in building institutional capacity and sharing technical expertise.

Critical Note

While the meeting between Minister Robow and President Arpaguş represents a significant step in strengthening Somalia-Turkey cooperation in religious affairs, the effectiveness of this partnership will ultimately depend on implementation. The establishment of a Zakat Fund and Waqf system has been a priority for the Ministry of Endowments, but previous efforts have faced challenges related to institutional capacity, transparency, and coordination with other government entities. The MoU, once ratified, will provide a formal framework, but its success will require sustained commitment from both sides and adequate resources to train personnel and develop infrastructure. Furthermore, Minister Robow’s background as a former Al-Shabaab leader who later renounced the group has drawn both interest and scrutiny. His leadership of the ministry has introduced administrative changes aimed at streamlining Hajj operations and improving transparency, but questions remain about the ministry’s ability to reform deeply entrenched practices. The international community and Somali citizens alike will be watching to see whether this partnership translates into tangible improvements in the governance of religious institutions and the delivery of services to communities in need.