9/20/2026
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has hailed three Qatar Charity-sponsored Somali orphans after they swept the top three places in the international “Rofaqa” category of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition.
The event, held recently in Qatar, drew hundreds of orphaned contestants from around the world. Barre also praised Qatar Charity’s longstanding support for orphan care and education in Somalia.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while receiving the winners at his office in Mogadishu. Competing in the full Quran memorization category, Abdulghani Abdulqadir Sheikh Hussein claimed first place, Abdulrahman Qasim Mohammed took second, and Abdulrahman Ahmed Mahmoud secured third.
A Triumph for Somalia
Barre commended Qatar Charity for combining orphan care with education and empowerment, helping young people excel academically and in Quranic studies. He said the students’ success underscores the respected status of Quran memorizers in Somali society and highlights the country’s promising talent in Islamic and Quranic studies. Describing the clean sweep as “a source of pride for the Somali people,” he urged the winners to continue memorizing and teaching the Quran and promoting its values in their communities.
The Prime Minister announced that the three winners would receive free education under the same support granted to the country’s top performers in the national secondary school certificate examinations. Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to Quranic education and gifted students, he told them: “in the government are proud of you for winning first, second, and third places in this international competition. Your achievement is an honor for all Somalis, and I will direct the Ministry of Education to provide you with free education in support of your academic journey.”
The winners were among 389 contestants from 20 countries who entered the international “Rofaqa” competition for orphans, organized by Qatar Charity in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. A select group advanced to the final round.
The “Rofaqa” category is the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition’s first international category dedicated to orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity. Open to participants aged 12 to 20, it offers a competitive Quran memorization platform within an educational setting that combines Quranic excellence with humanitarian care.
Ambassador Praises Investment in Talent
Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Sheikh Ali, Somalia’s Ambassador to Qatar, also congratulated the winners, saying their clean sweep reflected the value of investing in people. He said the result showed how sustained care, education, and training can turn talent into achievement.
The Ambassador highlighted Qatar Charity’s leading role in caring for and empowering orphans, noting that its programs extend beyond meeting basic needs. They identify talent, build capabilities, and create opportunities for children to shape a better future and excel across a range of fields.
He described the “Rofaqa” Initiative as an advanced model of orphan care, with education, capacity-building, and character development at its core.
The approach, he said, strengthens children’s confidence, unlocks their potential, and equips them to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Education at the Heart of Development
The Ambassador also praised Qatar Charity’s decades of humanitarian and development work in Somalia, particularly its investment in education through school construction, educational projects, and sponsorships for students and orphans. He said these efforts have helped produce thousands of qualified professionals who now serve in government institutions and the private sector, contributing to development and stability. In recent years alone, he added, Qatar Charity has supported 4,000 university students in Somalia, most of whom have since joined the public and private sectors.
He said the trio’s success offers tangible evidence of the lasting impact of investment in education and orphan care. It also illustrates Qatar Charity’s approach of moving beneficiaries beyond care toward empowerment and achievement, while underscoring education’s central role in development and in building a better future.
About the “Rofaqa” Initiative
Qatar Charity’s “Rofaqa” Initiative is the world’s largest umbrella program for sponsoring orphans and other vulnerable groups. It currently provides comprehensive care to more than 226,000 beneficiaries across dozens of countries, including 22,000 orphaned children in different regions of Somalia.