By Nyang’au Araka
Nine Members of Parliament from the Federal Republic of Somalia have officially taken oath as members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
This marked a significant milestone in the country’s integration into the East African Community (EAC).
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday, during a special hybrid sitting of the Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, presided over by Speaker Joseph Ntakiritumana.
The newly sworn-in legislators include Ilham Ali Gassar, Abdirahman Bashir Shariff, Zahra Ali Hassan, Faisal Abdi Roble, Faduma Abdullahi Mohamud, Fahma Ahmed Nur, Hussein Hassan Abdi, Abdusalam Hadliye Omar and Abukar Abdi Osman.
The oath-taking formally ushers Somalia into EALA’s governance framework, reinforcing its participation in regional integration, security cooperation, and economic development within the bloc.
Speaking on behalf of the Somali delegation, Dr. Abdusalam Hadliye Omar expressed appreciation for the opportunity, noting the country’s readiness to contribute to the regional agenda.
He said the members were committed to “the Treaty, vision, principles and well-being of the citizens of EAC” and assured the Assembly of Somalia’s dedication to its responsibilities within the Community.
In the same session, three Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from Tanzania, Rwanda and Somalia were sworn in as ex-officio members.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of EAC Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, pledged commitment to the bloc’s vision, stating that his country “accept[s] the responsibility and duty with strong sense of duty to serve EAC and broader integration vision.”
He emphasized the importance of homegrown solutions, calling for “African solutions to African problems” to achieve shared prosperity and a more integrated region.
Rwanda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Dr. Yuta Kayetesi, affirmed her commitment to “moving the community forward” while upholding the rule of law in the bloc.
Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Amb. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, congratulated EALA leadership for advancing the integration agenda and pledged continued collaboration to implement the Treaty.
The ceremony also saw the appointment of Somali members to key Assembly committees and the EALA Commission, further embedding the country’s role in legislative processes.
The development underscores EALA’s central role in promoting regional unity and signals renewed momentum toward deeper cooperation among EAC partner states.
