Somalia elects nine representatives to East African Legislative Assembly

Somalia’s Federal Parliament on Wednesday formally elected nine representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), completing a key step in the country’s integration into the East African Community (EAC).

The election took place during a joint session at Villa Hargeisa in Mogadishu, bringing together members from both the Upper and Lower Houses. The vote concluded a process that began in February 2024, shortly after Parliament approved the law formalising Somalia’s entry into the EAC.

A five-member parliamentary committee, chaired by MP Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan (Nuuh) and assisted by Senator Zamzam Ibrahim Ali, supervised the nomination and vetting of candidates. The committee reviewed applications, verified qualifications, and presented a final shortlist to Parliament for consideration.

MP Mohamed told legislators that the committee “ensured fairness and transparency throughout the process,” while Senator Zamzam emphasised that the nominations “reflected representation from different regions and political groups.”

The nine elected members are Hussein Hassan Mohamed, Ilhaan Ali Gasar, Faysal Abdi Roble, Abdisalaam Hadliye, Abdirahman Bashir Sharif, Fahma Ahmed Nur, Fadumo Abdullahi, Abukar Mardaadi, and Sahra Ali Hassan.

Legislators said the outcome ensures Somalia will participate in EALA’s upcoming sessions in Arusha, Tanzania. With these appointments, Somalia now becomes a fully active member of the EAC’s legislative branch, joining Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

EALA is responsible for drafting regional laws, harmonising policies, and promoting economic and political cooperation among member states. It also plays a central role in advancing the free movement of people, goods, and services across the region.

Somalia’s admission into the East African Community was approved by regional heads of state in November 2024.

The decision followed months of evaluation and dialogue between Somali officials and the EAC Secretariat. Since then, Mogadishu has increased its participation in regional activities, including trade and infrastructure cooperation.

Earlier this year, Somalia hosted the East African Cooperation Conference (EACON 2025) in Mogadishu. The meeting brought together more than 350 delegates from across the region to discuss strategies for improving economic integration and cross-border trade. Somali officials used the event to highlight the country’s potential role as a key trading hub in the Horn of Africa.

In another move toward regional unity, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced plans to introduce Swahili into Somalia’s education curriculum.

The president said the decision would “build cultural and linguistic bridges” with neighbouring countries and strengthen Somalia’s participation in regional initiatives.

Speaking after the parliamentary vote, Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, Sadik Abdullahi, said the election demonstrated Somalia’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to the bloc.

“This is not only about representation,” he said. “It is about ensuring Somalia’s voice is part of regional decision-making.”

The new Somali delegation is expected to travel to Arusha in the coming weeks to take part in EALA’s next sitting. The Assembly is currently discussing key legislative frameworks related to trade, transport, and security cooperation across member states.

While Somalia’s membership in the bloc presents new opportunities for economic and political collaboration, it also introduces challenges that will require coordination with other EAC nations on policies and implementation.

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With its legislative team now in place, Somalia’s participation in the East African Legislative Assembly signals a shift from symbolic membership to active involvement in shaping the region’s future.