Conference Dedicated to Africa Day Held with Co-Organization of Baku State University
An international conference titled “Rising Continent, New Partnerships,” dedicated to Africa Day, was held with the joint organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Baku State University, and the Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization.
The conference brought together ambassadors of African countries, members of the Milli Majlis, heads of relevant state institutions, university leaders, experts, and African students studying in Azerbaijan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev emphasized that political contacts between Azerbaijan and African countries have intensified significantly in recent years and noted the strong potential for expanding economic cooperation. He highlighted projects implemented through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan International Development Agency, as well as educational opportunities provided to African youth within the framework of the International Education Grant Program named after Heydar Aliyev.
Deputy Minister of Science and Education Kenan Karimzade noted that relations between Azerbaijan and African countries have become increasingly active in recent years. According to him, this is reflected not only in official meetings and agreements, but also in people-to-people contacts, academic cooperation, and the growing number of African students studying at Azerbaijani universities.
He stated that more than 360 students from 40 African countries are currently studying at higher education institutions in Azerbaijan. Emphasizing that education is one of the strongest forms of partnership between countries, Kenan Karimzade noted that African students benefit from various scholarship and educational programs supported by the Azerbaijani government. He added that international graduates who studied in Azerbaijan would continue to remember the friendship, experience, and hospitality they encountered in the country.
Rector of Baku State University Elchin Babayev stated at the conference that Azerbaijan and African countries have been actively expanding cooperation in higher education, scientific research, diplomacy, and youth exchange in recent years.
The rector noted that BSU was proud to host a conference that serves as an important platform for meaningful dialogue and long-term partnership between Azerbaijan and African countries. He recalled that last year the university hosted a delegation led by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube. During the visit, the sides discussed opportunities for launching joint master’s and doctoral programs, expanding academic mobility, digital education, and scientific cooperation.
The rector emphasized the active role of African students in the academic and social life of BSU, describing them as cultural ambassadors who enrich the university community with their perspectives, traditions, and experiences. He noted that African students consistently demonstrate strong academic performance and actively participate in international discussions and initiatives organized in Azerbaijan.
Elchin Babayev also highlighted BSU’s longstanding academic traditions in Asian and African studies, noting that the history of the Department of Asian and African Countries at the Faculty of History spans more than a century.
The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Morocco to Azerbaijan, Adil Embarsh, also addressed the event. A video message by Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was presented during the opening ceremony.
Panel discussions held within the framework of the conference focused on “Azerbaijan–Africa Relations: Current Dynamics and Strategic Potential” and “Agenda 2063 and the Role of Africa in the Emerging System of International Relations.” Ambassadors of Somalia, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, and Eswatini, Azerbaijani ambassadors to Ethiopia and Kenya, representatives of the foreign ministries of Uganda and Tanzania, and heads of interparliamentary working groups of the Milli Majlis with Algeria and Kenya participated in the discussions.
The event also featured a presentation titled “The ASAN xidmət Model in Africa.”
As part of the cultural program, African students presented artistic performances, and a special video dedicated to the history of the African continent was screened. An exhibition organized within the conference program showcased photographs reflecting meetings between President Ilham Aliyev and African leaders, as well as other high-level contacts.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Communities of the Guinea-Bissau, Fatumata Jau, emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and African countries carry strategic importance.
