MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has welcomed an appellate ruling that clears the way for the country’s elected representatives to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, ending months of legal uncertainty over Somalia’s participation in the regional body.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry congratulated the nine lawmakers chosen by Somalia’s Federal Parliament to represent the country in EALA, calling the court’s decision a key step toward strengthening Somalia’s role within the East African Community. “The elected members will play an important role in advancing Somalia’s regional engagement and integration efforts,” the ministry said, underscoring the strategic importance of Somalia’s presence in EALA deliberations.
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The East African Court of Appeal’s decision overturns a November ruling by the East African Court of Justice that had suspended the swearing-in of Somalia’s representatives after a legal petition challenged the selection process in Mogadishu. The suspension temporarily left Somalia without a voice in the EAC’s legislative arm.
The petition, filed by Somali academics and political figures, alleged that the nomination process was politically influenced, that qualified candidates were excluded and that EAC procedures were violated. It accused Somalia’s Federal Parliament of breaching appointment rules in a way that favored government-aligned candidates. The appellate ruling removes those legal obstacles, allowing the swearing-in to proceed and enabling Somalia to fully engage in the assembly’s work.
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry said the decision will allow its delegation to contribute to EALA’s legislative agenda, which shapes regional policy on trade, mobility and cooperation among the bloc’s member states. The ministry reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to working closely with EAC partners on shared priorities, including economic integration, development and regional stability. “As Somalia continues to deepen its engagement within the East African Community, the ministry remains committed to ensuring effective representation across all EAC organs and institutions, in support of Somalia’s national interests and regional integration,” the statement said.
Somalia joined the East African Community in 2023 as part of a broader effort to reassert its place in regional institutions after decades of conflict and isolation. Full participation in EALA is widely seen as a cornerstone of that membership, offering Mogadishu a direct role in shaping the laws and policies that govern the customs union, the common market and the free movement of people and goods across the region.
With the appellate decision now in place, Somalia’s parliamentary-elected delegation can take its seats and begin committee work, debates and votes that influence how the EAC pursues integration and addresses cross-border challenges. The ruling also provides clarity to businesses, civil society and partner states that had been awaiting confirmation of Somalia’s legislative representation as the bloc advances its agenda on trade facilitation, infrastructure connectivity and labor mobility.
The ministry did not immediately announce a timetable for the swearing-in, but officials framed the ruling as the removal of the final procedural hurdle to Somalia’s full participation in the regional legislature. The outcome marks an early test of Somalia’s EAC accession process and signals that the country’s push for deeper regional engagement is moving back on track.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
