Somalia's Lawmakers Secure Seats in East African Parliament After Court Ruling

Monday January 19, 2026 Nairobi (HOL) — Somalia’s representatives have been cleared to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly after a regional appeals court on Monday overturned earlier rulings that had blocked their participation, ending a months-long legal dispute over the country’s nomination process. The decision by the East African Court of Appeal paves the way for Somalia’s full engagement in the East African Community’s legislative body and removes a significant obstacle to Mogadishu’s regional integration efforts since joining the bloc. advertisements Somalia’s ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community, Ilyas Ali Hassan, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for the rule of law and a boost to Somalia’s standing within the regional organization. “This decision enables Somalia to fully participate in the work of the East African Legislative Assembly and strengthens our role within the East African Community,” the ambassador said, adding that it reflects Somalia’s broader push to deepen regional cooperation. The ruling overturns a decision issued in November by the East African Court of Justice, which suspended the swearing-in of nine Somali lawmakers to the assembly after a petition challenged the legitimacy of the selection process carried out in Mogadishu. The petition, filed by Somali academics and politicians, argued that the elections were politically influenced, that qualified candidates had been excluded and that East African Community procedures were violated. It also accused Somalia’s Federal Parliament of flouting appointment rules in a way that favored government-linked candidates while sidelining others. Those allegations prompted the court to halt the swearing-in pending a full review, effectively leaving Somalia without representation in the regional legislature during the legal process. Monday’s ruling clears the way for the lawmakers to assume their duties, restoring Somalia’s voice in EALA deliberations on regional legislation, trade, security cooperation and integration policy. Somalia formally joined the East African Community in 2023, a move seen as part of Mogadishu’s strategy to re-anchor itself in regional institutions after decades of conflict and isolation. Participation in EALA is considered a key pillar of membership, allowing states to shape laws and policies that affect the bloc’s common market and political cooperation.