Court Reinstates Somalia’s Nine East African Legislative Assembly Delegates After Legal Challenge

EACJ lifts injunction, reinstates Somalia’s nine EALA delegates after months-long dispute

NAIROBI, Kenya — The East African Court of Justice has reinstated nine Somali delegates to the East African Legislative Assembly, ending months of suspension tied to allegations that their selection in Mogadishu was flawed and politically influenced.

The Arusha-based court on Friday lifted an injunction imposed earlier this year after a group of Somali academics and politicians challenged the delegates’ election. The petitioners alleged corruption, exclusion of eligible candidates and violations of East African Community procedures during Parliament’s nomination process, prompting the court to halt the swearing-in pending a full review.

In its final ruling, the court found insufficient grounds to continue blocking the appointments and confirmed the nine nominees are eligible to assume their seats. The decision restores Somalia’s formal participation in the regional assembly, which had been on hold since the injunction was issued.

The outcome is likely to reverberate in Mogadishu, where the selection process has faced intense scrutiny. While the court’s ruling removes the immediate legal obstacle, it is expected to renew pressure on Somalia’s federal institutions to clarify and enforce transparent nomination procedures within both houses of Parliament.

Somalia joined the East African Community in 2023 and is sending its first cohort of representatives to EALA. Full participation in the assembly is seen as central to advancing the country’s priorities on trade integration, infrastructure links and regional cooperation as it deepens ties with neighbors after years of state rebuilding.

EALA plays a key role in shaping the regional bloc’s policy and legal framework, debating and passing legislation that underpins the common market, security coordination and cross-border movement. Somalia’s reinstated presence gives it a voice in those deliberations at a time when member states are grappling with economic headwinds, security challenges and efforts to harmonize standards across a growing community.

The Federal Government of Somalia has not yet issued an official response to the ruling. A statement is expected in the coming hours. It was not immediately clear when the delegates would be sworn in and take up their duties in the assembly.

The case highlights the balancing act facing new EAC members: meeting procedural and governance benchmarks while building domestic consensus around how representatives are chosen for influential regional bodies. For Somalia, Friday’s decision removes an institutional gap in Arusha, but it also places the spotlight squarely on the integrity of its selection processes at home.

By restoring the delegates, the EAC court has signaled that the immediate legal bar to Somalia’s EALA participation has been resolved. The broader test — ensuring nominations are competitive, inclusive and compliant with community rules — now shifts back to Mogadishu’s Parliament, where calls for clearer rules and stronger oversight are likely to intensify.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.