The endorsement of Somalia’s application by the EAC Summit of Heads of State on November 24 paved the way for its accession into the community.
Welcoming the milestone, President Mohamud hailed Somalia’s membership in the EAC as a moment of pride and expressed commitment to fostering economic, social, and political ties for the accelerated development of the region.
The Summit mandated Somalia to submit the instrument of ratification to the EAC Secretary General within six months of signing the Treaty of Accession.
Furthermore, the Summit assigned the EAC Council of Ministers with the responsibility of devising a roadmap for Somalia’s integration into the community and presenting progress updates at the subsequent Summit meeting.
Somalia’s journey towards EAC membership commenced in July 2022 when Mogadishu expressed interest in joining the bloc. President Mohamud’s high-level visit to the EAC headquarters at the time marked the formal launch of Somalia’s bid and aimed to garner support from Member States.
This visit coincided with a High-Level Retreat by EAC Heads of State to review the region’s common market protocol. With Somalia’s impending membership, the East African Community will comprise nine Partner States, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
