Rome, Italy – Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali stepped into the ornate halls of Villa Madama in Rome with a sense of purpose shared by dozens of international delegates. The First International Conference on Italophony, a gathering dedicated to elevating the global presence of the Italian language, had drawn scholars, policymakers and cultural envoys from across continents. For Somalia, the minister’s presence signaled not just participation in a cultural forum, but a deliberate investment in ties that run deeper than diplomacy.
The conference unfolded in an atmosphere where history and modern aspiration seemed to meet. Attendees spoke passionately about the evolving identity of Italian as a global language—one shaped not only by Europe, but by communities and cultures that have embraced it far beyond the Mediterranean. Against this backdrop, Abdisalam Ali represented Somalia’s long-standing linguistic bridge with Italy, a connection born from shared history and reinforced through education, trade and institutional cooperation.
Inside the marble corridors of Villa Madama, discussions ranged from linguistic innovation to new cultural partnerships, all underscoring the belief that languages thrive when they are lived, used and expanded in real communities. The Somali delegation’s engagement fit naturally into the narrative. Thousands of Somalis continue to study Italian, while older generations carry memories of it as a language of schooling, public administration and opportunity. That legacy, the minister emphasized in his engagements, remains a resource capable of fostering fresh collaboration.
Observers at the gathering noted that Somalia’s participation added a valuable perspective to the conversation—one that reminded Europe that Italophony stretches across regions shaped by resilience and reinvention. The minister’s day included exchanges with Italian officials and cultural institutions exploring how the renewed focus on the language could translate into practical cooperation, including academic programs, digital learning platforms and cultural exchanges for young Somalis.
By the time the sessions concluded, the event had served its purpose: to spotlight Italian as a language with global resonance and to rally partners committed to its future. Somalia’s role in that effort was unmistakable. In Rome, Abdisalam Ali helped reaffirm that cultural ties, when nurtured with intention, can become powerful conduits for shared growth—linking nations not only through policy, but through the sounds and stories that shape how people understand the world.