Somali Lawyer Appointed Judge at East African Court Of Justice

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ARUSHA: Somali lawyer Abdiwahid Warsame Abdullahi has been appointed to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice, strengthening Somalia’s representation within the legal institutions of the East African Community.

The appointment was confirmed during the 25th EAC Heads of State Summit in Arusha, where regional leaders reviewed integration priorities and institutional reforms within the bloc.

Abdullahi previously served as a state prosecutor at the Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu before pursuing advanced legal studies in the United States. He holds a Master of Laws degree in comparative and constitutional law from Ohio State University and most recently worked as a legal adviser and case reviewer in the prosecution division of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office.

The East African Court of Justice handles disputes related to the interpretation and implementation of EAC laws and treaties, including cases involving cross-border trade barriers, treaty violations and disputes between member states.

Somalia joined the regional bloc in 2023 and has been working to align its legal and institutional framework with the EAC treaty as part of its broader regional integration process.

Regional leaders have also directed Somalia to fast-track the domestication of the EAC treaty into national law and complete consultations on the proposed East African Political Confederation by June 30, 2026.