# Intergovernmental Academy of Somali Language (AGA)

> What the Intergovernmental Academy of Somali Language does, its founding, its Mogadishu headquarters, its leaders, its federal budget line and its 2026 conference.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/somali-language-academy/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What it does

The academy works to develop, standardise and promote the Somali language across the countries where it is spoken ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Somali_Language_Academy)). Its 2026 conference focused on standardising the language, linguistic research, cultural heritage and cooperation between member states ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/deputy-prime-minister-salah-ahmed-jama-closes-regional-somali-language-academy-conference-in-mogadishu/)).

## How it was set up

On 26 June 2013 the governments of Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) launched the academy at a ceremony in Djibouti City, organised by Djibouti's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Culture and Waqf with the Somali-Speaking PEN Centre of Djibouti ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Somali_Language_Academy)). In January 2015 President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) announced a new headquarters in Mogadishu, and its foundation stone was laid in February 2015 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Somali_Language_Academy)).

In December 2022 Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and [Ismail Omar Guelleh](/en/people/ismail-omar-guelleh/) of Djibouti opened the academy's building in Mogadishu. Hassan Sheikh thanked Djibouti for its role in the project, and said the Somali language "is the common thread that binds the Somali people together" ([Hiiraan Online, December 2022](https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2022/Dec/189271/somalia_djibouti_celebrate_launch_of_somali_language_academy.aspx)).

## Who leads it

Ma'allin [Said Salah](/en/people/said-salah-ahmed/) is chairman and Ismail Abdi Ahmed is deputy chairman ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/deputy-prime-minister-salah-ahmed-jama-closes-regional-somali-language-academy-conference-in-mogadishu/); [Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-hosts-regional-summit-to-advance-somali-language-agenda)).

## The money

The figures are from the federal Appropriation Act for 2027 as submitted to parliament, where the body is sub-head 040203 under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education ([Ministry of Finance, Appropriation Act 2027](https://mof.gov.so/storage/documents/2026/11/xihvtskp/Appropriation%20Act%20for%202027%20Submitted%20to%20Parlement.pdf)):

| Year | US$ |
|---|---|
| 2025 (actual) | 250,078 |
| 2026 (budget) | 342,256 |
| 2027 (proposed) | 372,256 |

This is Somalia's federal contribution. Other member governments' contributions are not in this budget.

All federal bodies' budgets are compared on [federal bodies and their budgets](/en/institutions/federal-bodies-and-budgets/).

## What it reports doing

Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama closed a four-day AGA conference in Mogadishu, attended by Education Minister Farah Abdulkadir, a deputy minister from Ethiopia's Somali Region and a Kenyan envoy. The conference issued a communiqué setting out a three-year strategic plan for the language ([SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/deputy-prime-minister-salah-ahmed-jama-closes-regional-somali-language-academy-conference-in-mogadishu/); [Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-hosts-regional-summit-to-advance-somali-language-agenda)).

## Related pages

Somalia's own [Somali Academy of Arts and Sciences](/en/institutions/federal-bodies-and-budgets/) has a separate budget line. Somali-language terms in technology are also produced by the [National Communications Authority](/en/institutions/national-communications-authority/), which launched a Somali cybersecurity glossary ([National Communications Authority](https://nca.gov.so/news/national-communications-authority-launches-somali-cybersecurity-terminology-glossary)).

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