WardheerNews Editorial
Somalia’s accession to the East African Community in 2023, is a significant step that brings economic growth and unlocks new trade opportunities for the Somali people, whose entrepreneurship presence is already visible across member states.
Despite that, Somalia’s membership has faltered, and it could end up losing its status. So far, the nine-member lawmakers, whom the Somali Federal Government of Somalia appointed last October and swore in on March 16, 2026, are only nominally members of the East African Legislative Assembly EALA). These legislators from Somalia have not been given the means to do their job.
Worse, since the Government has not paid its dues, it cannot enjoy the privileges given to others. They are so far treated as free campers.
The process to deposit Somalia’s application to join the Community began about 10 years ago. Although some countries did not initially want to accept Somalia’s membership in the community, because of its political and security challenges, at least two countries pushed in favor of Somalia — first Kenya under President Uhuru, and lately Tanzania under President Samia.
But both countries’ patience with Somalia’s inability to fully join the Community seems to have worn out for reasons related to Somalia’s fragile state affairs.
The current regime of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office four years ago, promised his counterparts that Somalia would fulfill its commitments to the organization.
So far, none of the promises have materialized. For example, Somalia has so far failed to pay its dues, which is a prerequisite for membership. Somalia also failed to ratify the Constitution of the Community, which is the basis for any member state to have a say in the Community’s affairs.
Whether it is a lack of commitment by the executive branch, or the inability of the largely ineffective and rancorous Parliament, or both, is not clear. Many blame Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s over-reliance on his confidante, Ali Omer, whose hand is in many pots with no results in sight. Mr. Omer, who is the most travels member of the cabinet, second only to the president, has become a liability to the East African Community.
Mr. Omer is supposed to make this assignment his top priority. However, he is busy with many other projects outside his main assignment. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he pushed the legitimate Minister aside and is omnipresent everywhere. In the same token, he completely failed in attending to the priorities of the EAC.
If the late Abdirahman Jama Barre was rumored to be the brotherly confidante of Siad Barre, Mr. Omer is the trustworthy cousin of Hassan Sheikh Mohamed. The only difference is at least Abdirahman Jama Barre has a long record in Foreign Affairs. Mr. Ali does not have any known credentials to be the most powerful man in Hassan Sheikh’s government.
Somalia thus far has missed all the targets set for it since it joined the Community.
All these factors cause some members of the community to publicly air their frustration about Somalia enjoying a free ride. At the last EALA meeting, one of the legislators complained about bringing Somali legislators on board if their government failed to pay its dues.
Had Somalia fulfilled its commitments, it could have benefited from East Africa’s educational institutions. Also, the movement of goods and people would greatly benefit the Somali business community. One is prompted to ask why join an organization if you are not ready. Somalia is indeed not intellectually and institutionally ready to join one of the oldest regional organizations on the Continent.
However, none of the potential gains listed here would be realized if the government in Mogadishu is incapable of fulfilling its promises. At this point, it is not feasible to think that Somalia would play any role in the Community’s affairs.
Somalia is only a member of the EAC in name but has no role whatsoever in either participating in its law-making process or taking advantage of the communities’ markets and institutions. Neither does it have a say on proposed projects.
Worse, Somalia could be kicked out of the Community for it lacked commitment to uphold its oath. If that happens, it would be the embarrassment of the Century.
WardheerNews
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