Somalia elects first EALA lawmakers, deepening integration into East African bloc

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s bicameral Federal Parliament on Wednesday elected nine representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), marking the Horn of Africa nation’s first legislative presence in the East African Community (EAC).

The joint session of both houses, chaired by Speaker of the House of the People Sheikh Adan Mohamed Noor (Madobe), concluded a landmark electoral process widely seen as a step toward Somalia’s deeper political and institutional integration with the regional bloc.

Somalia officially joined the EAC in March 2024 and was formally admitted in November of the same year, becoming the bloc’s eighth member state. The newly elected legislators will take their seats in EALA's headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, alongside colleagues from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In addition to its legislative delegation, Somalia is expected to nominate a judge to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), completing its full institutional entry into the community.

Among the elected EALA members are Ambassador Zahra Ali Hassan, Somalia’s former envoy to Tanzania and non-resident ambassador to Rwanda; Dr. Abdisalam Omer, a former foreign minister and central bank governor; Prof. Faisal Roble, an urban policy analyst; and Abdirahman Bashir Shariff, a senior World Bank adviser and ex-deputy ambassador to the United States. Ilham Ali Gassar, a noted expert in governance and peace-building, was also elected.

The Interim Committee oversaw the selection process on the Selection and Election of EALA Representatives, which established strict eligibility criteria including university-level education, English proficiency, and a background in regional cooperation.

Somalia’s inclusion in EALA signals its commitment to EAC’s objectives of economic integration, infrastructure development, and regional security cooperation. The bloc, with a combined market of more than 300 million people, aims to create a unified economic and political space in East Africa.

Founded in 2001, EALA functions as the legislative arm of the EAC, with responsibilities including law-making, oversight, and representation of regional citizens.

GAROWE ONLINE