Somalia seeks EAC membership through the African Union Conference

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is meeting with some African heads of state on the sidelines of the 36th African Union summit in Addis Abeba.The president met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Rwandan Presidents Paul Kagame and Évariste Ndayishimiye, and Kenyan President HE William Ruto.The leaders discussed ways to strengthen Somalia’s diplomatic ties with the East African Community (EAC).

In the meetings, the government of Somalia wanted to get the voice of support for joining the East Africa Community Regional Organization, of which the governments of these leaders are members.

On the other hand, the leaders discussed the hindering effects of terrorism on the development and stability of the continent and ways they can find suitable approaches to combat the terrorist groups in the region.

The government of Somalia strives to join the East African community. It lobbied at the African Union conference to be one of the permanent members of the East African Community; the market is critical to Somalia’s economic growth and regional stability.

During his stay in Addis Ababa, the President also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, and discussed the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries and cooperation in the fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, which has posed security threats in both countries.

Additionally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Abshir Haruse, met with some of the foreign ministers of African governments so that Somalia could get support for joining the East Africa community.

Somalia is making last-ditch attempt to join the East Africa Community; recently, a verification team from the community arrived in the country to ensure the readiness of Somalia to join the market.

The president appointed a special envoy to work on joining the East African Community.

Meanwhile, the Somali government wishes to eliminate the Al-Shabaab group from Somalia, which hinders the security and development in the country. The group carried out frequent explosions and assassinations in the cities, and imposed extortion on the traders.

The Somali Parliament is debating about several bills that Somalia believes will support its will to join the East African community. It is making efforts to encourage international investors to invest in the country. The members of the East Africa Community are Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Congo.