Somalia prepares to send MPs to East African Legislative Assembly

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has revealed that Mogadishu is preparing to send members of parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania.

Mogadishu is also in the process of dispatching a team of judges to take positions at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), which also operates from the northern Tanzania city.

The country is expected to elect nine regional parliamentarians to the parliament and appoint a judge to sit in the first instance division of the EACJ.

The Somali leader made these announcements on June 7, 2024, during the 23rd Extra-Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, which took place virtually.

President Mohamud also pointed out that his country was gearing up for integration into the East African Community's Customs Union and Common Market.

These are the first and second pillars of the EAC integration process.

Via the social media platform, X, Villa Somalia reported that the President "reaffirmed Somalia's commitment to the EAC, underscoring the significance of unity in fostering shared prosperity."

Regarding sending representatives to the EAC, the office of the president said it was a demonstration of "Somalia's dedication to actively contributing to the EAC's legislative and judicial processes, ensuring that the nation's voice is heard and its interests are well-represented within these institutions."

"President Hassan Sheikh further highlighted Somalia's dedication to enhancing trade, economic cooperation, and integration of customs and the common market among EAC member states."

H.E. President @HassanSMohamud delivered an address at the 23rd Extraordinary Summit of the EAC @jumuiya, heralding Somalia's participation as a full member of the EAC.

In his remarks, the President expressed his appreciation to EAC Chair Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South… pic.twitter.com/mTQlPdpng1

— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) June 7, 2024

The EAC summit was led by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is the summit's chairperson.

In his address to the meeting, Kiir stated that the bloc was on the right track, noting that intra-regional trade currently stands at 15 per cent.

He expressed hope that this figure would increase with Somalia's admission on March 4, 2024, as the EAC's eighth member.

The EAC was established in 2000 and is headquartered in Arusha. Its mission is to foster economic growth by, among other strategies, eliminating customs duties among member states. It established a common market in 2010.

Somalia's primary economic activities are in the livestock and agriculture sectors, which have proven to be highly vulnerable to climate change.

Livestock remains Somalia's main export, followed by bananas, fish, hides and skin, and charcoal, but the Horn of Africa country is believed to have potential offshore resources like oil and gas.