Somalia Seeks to Cement Its Role in East African Community
Somalia is taking further steps to solidify its position within the East African Community (EAC), with its delegation participating in a special meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers in Mombasa, Kenya. The meeting, which focused on employment and staffing matters, saw Somalia's State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Bal'ad), also the country's focal point for EAC affairs, alongside Director General for EAC Affairs Mohamed Faatir, discuss a range of issues central to the bloc's human resources and institutional capacity.
According to FTL Somalia, the meeting addressed urgent concerns regarding EAC staff and department vacancies, with a particular focus on filling open positions and ensuring equitable representation for all member states. As a result of these discussions, Somalia expects to secure 11 staff positions across EAC institutions. The move is reminiscent of Somalia's broader ambition to play a central role in regional integration, a goal the country has pursued since officially joining the EAC in 2023.
Filling 164 Vacancies: A Priority for the Council
While Somalia's expected gains were a specific highlight, the broader objective of the Mombasa gathering was to chart a course for the EAC's human resources. As reported by dailynews.co.tz, the Council of Ministers meeting, which ran from August 20 to 21, 2026, aimed to provide direction on employment measures within the bloc, ensuring that the Community has skilled, competent, and qualified personnel capable of executing its responsibilities.
In a significant development, the meeting deliberated on a plan to fill more than 164 vacant positions across various EAC institutions, with 88 identified as priority posts. This plan is intended to strengthen the performance of the EAC Secretariat and its institutions, a step expected to improve efficiency in implementing the Community's programmes.
Tanzania led the discussions, with its delegation headed by Deputy Minister for Finance, Eng. Mshamu Ali Munde, and Regina Ndege Qwaray, Deputy Minister in the President's Office responsible for Public Service Management and Good Governance. The ministerial meeting was preceded by a gathering of Permanent Secretaries on August 18 and 19, where Tanzania was represented by Charles Kadonya, Permanent Secretary responsible for East African Community Cooperation, and Salama Mbarouk Khatibu, Permanent Secretary in Zanzibar's Ministry of Youth, Employment and Empowerment.
Tanzania's Financial Commitment Commended
During the meeting, Tanzania was commended for being the only EAC member state to have fully paid its contribution of more than $8.2 million towards the Community's budget for the 2026/2027 financial year. The full payment was highlighted as evidence of Tanzania's commitment to implementing its Foreign Policy and the decisions made by EAC Heads of State. This financial dedication underscores the bloc's reliance on member states' contributions to fund its operations and initiatives.
Somalia's Judicial Appointment and EAC Deadlines
Beyond the staffing discussions, the FTL Somalia piece detailed Somalia's expanding role within EAC institutions. Notably, the article reported that Advocate Abdi Wa Warsame Abdullahi was formally appointed as a judge to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice, a confirmation made during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State in Arusha. The appointment is seen as significant given that the court is final authority for disputes related to treaty violations, unlawful cargo detentions, and non-tariff barriers, matters of great relevance to Somali entrepreneurs with extensive commercial networks across East Africa.
Additionally, the same article noted that EAC leaders have set a deadline of June 30, 2026, for Somalia to expedite adoption of regional laws and finalize consultations on the proposed East African Political Confederation Constitution. This underscores the practical steps Somalia must take to align with the bloc's legal and political frameworks.
Beyond the Council Meeting: Somalia's Engagement with EAC
The reports also provided glimpses into other facets of Somalia's growing EAC involvement. For instance, FTL Somalia reported that the Commander of the Somali National Army inaugurated a two-day gathering of intelligence leaders from EAC member states in Mogadishu, where Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud briefed participants on Somalia's domestic security landscape and regional developments. The country's NISA Director, Mahad Salad, attended regional intelligence chiefs conferences in Mombasa to discuss security cooperation. Meanwhile, Somalia's Ambassador to the DRC, Tanzania, and the EAC, Ilyas Ali Hassan, conducted meetings in Kinshasa with the DRC's Energy Minister to explore energy collaboration and investment possibilities, aimed at reducing hurdles for Somali merchants and investors in the DRC.
These narratives together paint a picture of a Somalia actively engaging with the East African Community on multiple fronts—from staffing to justice to security and investment—as it seeks to translate its 2023 membership into tangible influence and benefits.
This article draws on reporting from dailynews.co.tz and FTL Somalia. While both outlets documented the same overall meeting, their coverage was respectively centred on Tanzania's leadership and Somalia's specific gains, reflecting differing editorial angles carrying the same facts.