UN disowns Somalia-based university registered in its logo

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The United Nations has disowned an institution of higher learning within Mogadishu registered in its logo, a move that could further raise concerns about government systems within the war-torn nation.

United Nations Mission in Somalia [UNSOM], which coordinates all activities on behalf of the global peacekeeping body, denied knowledge about the United Nations Academy of Somalia, which has already started enrolling students.

Ari Gaitanis, the spokesperson of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia [UNSOM], told Goobjoog News on Monday that the institution was not part of the UN, a move that could see sanctions imposed on it for among others, using the logo of the global organization without consent.

"As a matter of fact, the United Nations is not aware of the institution. It's not in any way connected to our organization as people are meant to believe. It's a strange entity to us," a spokesperson for the UNSOM, told Goobjoog News.

Currently, he added, the United Nations is investigating circumstances under which the university branded itself an entity of the UN without due process, saying that no partnership has ever been made with the owners of the institution.

"We just knew about it recently and our officers are making follow-ups to establish how this could happen without our knowledge. Using a logo and the name of the UN requires bureaucratic and strict approvals which were never adhered to," he added.

Already, the institution's management has started taking in students and it could be one of the biggest universities within three war-torn nations, whose education systems have struggled to impress at the national and international levels for decades now.

The Ministry of Education in Somalia insists that the institution provided all important documents for registration, ruling out possibilities of forgery and crookedness, which are mostly practiced by unscrupulous cartels in the Horn of Africa nation.

"The university was duly registered. We ensured that all documents were presented for confirmation before registration was done. We followed the regulations and it's upon the UN to tell us who provided the institution with their documents," said the ministry.

In-depth investigations have established that the institution belongs to Ali Mohamed Gedi, a former Prime Minister who served during the Transitional Government of 2004-07 and currently working as an advisor to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

But what could be of major concern is the decision by the ministry of education to register the institution without going a step further to establish the authenticity of the documents, especially those believed to have emanated from the United Nations.

According to a statement signed by Prof. Sharif Amin, the de facto Vice-Chancellor of the institution, the United Nations Academy of Somalia offers scholarships to both Masters and doctorate students. Several degree courses are also part of the program.

Within Somalia, there have been concerns about the relationship between the UN and the institution. The United Nations sponsors a host of projects in Somalia, including support to several institutions through its affiliate bodies.

For potential candidates, the institution says on its website, fee payment of $50 must be deposited. It is located about 4 kilometers on the outskirts of Mogadishu within the Hodan District and offers up to 22 Masters and doctorate programs.

GAROWE ONLINE