Al-Azhar Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received, this morning, Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Razek Mahmoud, Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs at Al-Azhar headquarters. His Eminence said Al-Azhar is keen to provide all support to the State of Somalia because this brotherly country is of great importance to the Arab world and Africa, stressing that Al-Azhar is in the process of training and qualifying Somali imams. Al Azhar reached an agreement with the Somali Minister of Endowments about Somali imams to raise their efficiency and qualify them to promote moderate thought among the Somali people and confront extremism that has always been a threat to the security and stability in many African countries. Al-Azhar Grand Imam explained that Al-Azhar has recently opened its doors to foreign students to join science colleges, such as medicine and engineering so that they could contribute to the development and advancement of their own countries. In the past, their studies were limited only to Sharia colleges. He added that Al-Azhar University receives 873 Somali students, and we hope they will participate in making a real scientific renaissance and contribute to bringing security and peace to Somalia. 

The Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his part, said the Somali people hold Al-Azhar in great esteem. He expressed his country's deep gratitude to Al-Azhar for the support it provided to Somalia to get out of its ordeal, stressing the importance of the role Al-Azhar plays in combating extremism with its great experience in this regard.