The Legacy of Martyr Ömer Halisdemir Lives on Through Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency's (TİKA) Turkish Language Class in Somalia
TİKA launched this meaningful educational project in honor of the children of Somalia's fallen police officers. Named after July 15 Martyr Ömer Halisdemir, the Turkish language class was inaugurated during a ceremony at an orphanage in the capital, Mogadishu.
The opening was held as part of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day commemoration program, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Mogadishu.
The ceremony was attended by Somali Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael (Fartaag); Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi; Army Commander Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar; Somali Police Force Commander, Major General Asad Osman Abdullahi; and Türkiye's Ambassador to Mogadishu, Alper Aktaş. Also in attendance were the ambassadors of Qatar, Sudan, and Kenya, along with the Permanent Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed Bamba.
The 'Martyr Ömer Halisdemir Turkish Language Class' aims to honor the national spirit of July 15, preserve the memory of a heroic martyr through education, and provide Somali students with the opportunity to learn Turkish. Turkish language instruction in the classroom will be provided by Yunus Emre Institute, enabling students to become more familiar with the Turkish language and culture and gain an advantage when pursuing educational opportunities in Türkiye.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: De Lille outlines tourism budget priorities, reforms and growth plans
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has outlined how the Department of Tourism's R2.434bn budget for the 2025/26 financial year will be directed towards destination development, tourism support services, legislative reforms, and job creation, with a strong emphasis on rural and township economies. "This budget is based on the Government of National Unity's Programme of Action for the next five years," said De Lille, addressing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, 22 July. "Our mission is clear: to elevate the profile of tourism as a key driver of economic growth and job creation, as it is identified in the National Development Plan and the Tourism Sector Master Plan." Budget allocation breakdown According to De Lille, the primary allocations from the R2.434bn budget include: • R1.3bn to South African Tourism • R331m to Destination Development, primarily directed to the Working for Tourism programme • R331m to Tourism Sector Support Services, which fund initiatives such as the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP), Tourism Grading, Market Access, and the Tourism Transformation Fund (TTF) Response to Select Committee concerns De Lille welcomed the recommendations from the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, chaired by Sonja Boshoff, stating: "The Select Committee has identified key aspects where I, too, think the Department of Tourism and South African Tourism can sharpen their focus to deliver on our mandate." "These matters the Department is trying to address in its work, and the current Budget Policy is before the NCOP today for debate," she said. Focus on legislative reforms and governance The department will finalise and table the Tourism Amendment Bill, which aims to address short-term rentals, grading enforcement, and governance. De Lille also committed to: • Reviewing legacy strategies, including those on Heritage & Cultural Tourism, Rural Tourism, and Service Excellence • Implementing 60-day fund approval targets for GTIP, TEF and TTF, with consequence management • Enhancing oversight and governance through quarterly public dashboards tracking EPWP placements, fund disbursements, and risk metrics She said: 'We will strengthen internal controls, audit committees and contract and consequence-management frameworks.' New five-pillar sector plan launched De Lille unveiled the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, a sector-wide action framework built on five pillars: 1. Ease of access – including visa reform, air connectivity and road transport 2. Coordinated destination marketing 3. Tourist safety and security 4. Tourism product development 5. Job creation – with a focus on youth employment and skills pathways She announced that an Execution Lab will be held next week with sector leaders to develop implementation strategies and timelines to meet 2030 growth targets. Destination development projects in nine provinces De Lille detailed 17 community tourism infrastructure projects scheduled for completion this financial year. Highlights include: • Mthonsi and Qatywa Lodges (Eastern Cape) • Qwa Qwa Guest House (Free State) • Muzi Pan Project (KwaZulu-Natal) • 10 Limpopo projects, including Mapate Recreational Tourism, Nandoni Dam and Phiphidi Waterfall • Mdluli Cultural Centre (Mpumalanga) and Manyane Lodge (North West) At the Tisane Project in Limpopo, upgrades to accommodation and a restaurant have already enabled the hosting of several community functions. "We are also working to finalise condition assessments for five World Heritage Sites," she added. Nearly 18,000 visit new dinosaur centre in a month Since launching on 22 June 2025, the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre at Golden Gate Highlands National Park has already attracted nearly 18,000 tourists in its first month. "This demonstrates the power of partnerships. The project was funded by the European Union, with the Department of Tourism working in close collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries," said De Lille. Investment and marketing initiatives In September 2025, the department will host the first Tourism Investment Conference in Cape Town to attract anchor investors for tourism infrastructure. "We will launch our Tourism Investment Booklet in collaboration with the UN Tourism," De Lille said. South African Tourism will also sharpen its marketing efforts, particularly in India, China, and Brics+ countries, supported by the improved air access and direct flights expected to resume through SAA. At the recent China mission with Deputy President Paul Mashatile, De Lille noted: "It was encouraging to hear from 150 tour operators about the positive impact the Department of Tourism's Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) is having on sentiment." The department aims to support 105 MICE bid submissions, convert 25 into closed wins, and host 10 events in villages, townships and small towns, with a targeted economic impact of R120m. Youth innovation and risk management To address digital and climate-related challenges, the department is developing a Digital Maturity Roadmap, a real-time tourism dashboard, and mobile tools. A G20 Hackathon will also be hosted, in partnership with 18 higher education institutions, inviting students to propose digital tourism solutions. The Sector Risk and Mitigation Plan will prioritise climate change, safety, health, and governance. In closing, De Lille reiterated the department's commitment to reform and inclusive growth: "Together, we will create a resilient and inclusive tourism sector that powers South Africa's future."
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Rising platinum prices to benefit South Africa's fiscal plans
A platinum price rally and increased mining royalties should ease the pressure on South Africa's fragile coalition government ahead of its October budget, Old Mutual Investment Group, one of the country's largest institutional investors, said. The government, led by the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance, is attempting to balance competing interests across parties, and political analysts say that painful trade-offs, such as higher taxes or spending cuts, could fracture the coalition. South Africa is, however, the world's largest producer of platinum group metals - including palladium and other precious metals as well as platinum - that have rallied this year, meaning increased mining royalties could provide relief for the government ahead of its mid-term budget. "Given the role that PGMs play in revenue collection ... this could be a bit of a gift horse windfall to the government of national unity," Meryl Pick, portfolio manager at Old Mutual Investment Group, said during a briefing. She said a repeat was possible of South Africa's mining tax windfall in 2021 when revenue collections exceeded budget projections by R100bn, helping to narrow the fiscal deficit. Spot platinum prices touched their highest levels since August 2014 earlier this month, extending a record second-quarter rally fueled by a rise in demand and drop in supply. Some analysts have said the rally might not be sustained, given global economic uncertainty that may affect demand. But Old Mutual Investment Group analysts said prices were likely to keep rising on the basis of slower adoption of electric vehicles in Western markets, steady demand for hybrid cars, and constrained mining supply due to years of underinvestment. One of the major uses for platinum and palladium is to curb emissions from vehicles that run on fossil fuels. Old Mutual has more than R400bn of assets under management, and its funds have a significant allocation to resources and mining shares. The commodity rally has also buoyed South Africa's other markets. South Africa's MSCI index is up more than 32% since the start of the year - double the around 16% gain in the wider MSCI EM index.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Gambia Reiterates Support for Morocco's Sovereignty over Sahara, Fully Backs Autonomy plan as only Credible, Serious, and Realistic Solution
The Republic of Gambia reiterated its support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region and for the Autonomy Initiative as the only solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. This clear and consistent stance was reaffirmed in a joint communiqué issued following talks held Wednesday in Rabat between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie. In the joint communiqué, the Gambian Foreign Minister "reaffirmed Gambia's support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its entire territory, including the Sahara region," and "reiterated the Republic of Gambia's full support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only credible, serious, and realistic solution to this issue." The Gambian Minister also "praised the growing international consensus, driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in support of the Autonomy Plan and Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara," while recalling "the opening of the Consulate General of the Republic of Gambia in Dakhla in January 2020", the first consulate general to open in Dakhla. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
