“We are ready for admission into the EAC!”- Somali President 

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ARUSHA: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended the East African Union (EAC) Heads of State summit in Arusha, on Friday as a special guest, where the leaders discussed the request submitted by the Somali government to join the regional bloc.

Sheikh Mohamud told the 22nd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State that Somalia was ripe for admission into the umbrella body, sharing Somalia’s economic and social opportunities. The President also lobbied for the ratification of the Somali government’s request during side meetings with other African leaders. 

The leaders of the East African Community noted that the verification process for the Federal Republic of Somalia’s admission into the EAC had not yet been carried out and instructed the council to swiftly fast-track the verification process in accordance with the EAC procedure for admission of the new members into the EAC.

The new EAC chairperson, Burundi president Evariste Ndayishimiye pledged to work on Somalia’s outstanding verification exercises with a view to expand the EAC.

“President Mohamud thanked the leaders of the East African Community (EAC) for the opportunity they gave him to strengthen the request of the Somali government to join the regional bloc. He praised the people and the government of the Republic of Tanzania for the hospitality they gave him and his delegation,” the Somali presidency said in a press release.

President Hassan held meetings with various leaders, including the presidents of Tanzania, Ms. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, and Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye.