Somalia Discusses Participation in the East African Political Confederation with EALA

Mogadishu, September 25, 2026 – The Somali government has concluded three days of consultations with the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), focusing on Somalia's participation in the political integration process of the region.

The consultations, held in the city of Mogadishu, analyzed the progress made on the East African Political Confederation plan, and the readiness of government institutions, laws, and the constitution of Somalia regarding participation in this plan.

The meeting was attended by members of EALA, representatives from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, Somali government institutions, parliamentarians, constitutional and legal experts, civil society, academics, and businesspeople.

During the consultations, particular attention was given to the coordination mechanisms of national institutions, the preparedness of government agencies, and legal and constitutional issues related to Somalia's participation in the planned political confederation.

Somalia became a full member of the East African Community in March 2024, after submitting the membership ratification document. Since then, the country has been in a process of aligning its institutions with the structure and obligations of the organization.

On the last day of the consultations, the Director-General of East African Community Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among national institutions and aligning the country's laws and systems with the increasing obligations of Somalia towards the EAC.

The East African Political Confederation is planned to be a transitional phase towards the establishment of a future political federation uniting the member states of the organization.

The Somali government stated that these consultations are part of ongoing efforts to work with EALA and the EAC Secretariat to advance discussions on the political integration of East African countries.