ARUSHA — The Speaker of Somalia’s House of the People, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur (Jama), chaired the 21st meeting of the Bureau of Speakers of East African Community (EAC) parliaments in Arusha, Tanzania, on Friday, consolidating Somalia’s parliamentary engagement with the regional bloc it joined in 2024.
The meeting focused on strengthening parliamentary cooperation, advancing parliamentary diplomacy, exchanging expertise, and ensuring that East African integration delivers tangible benefits to the people of the region.
Speaker Jama briefed his counterparts on the progress of Somalia’s 11th Federal Parliament, highlighting achievements in state-building, the completion and ratification of the provisional constitution, security and the rule of law, public financial management, and economic development. He noted that the House of the People has approved more than 56 laws and 18 resolutions.
He emphasised that the House’s goal is to fully discharge its constitutional responsibilities, particularly legislation and oversight, to serve the interests of the Somali people and contribute to strengthening cooperation and integration within the East African Community.
Somalia to Host 22nd EAC Speakers’ Bureau Meeting
Speaker Jama announced that Somalia is ready to host the 22nd meeting of the Bureau of Speakers of EAC parliaments in Mogadishu at the end of January 2027. He expressed optimism that Mogadishu would welcome the Bureau and that the meeting would reinforce joint efforts toward building a united, prosperous East African Community living in lasting peace.
He stressed that the future of the East African Community depends on strong cooperation, resilient institutions and parliaments that work effectively for the interests and aspirations of their peoples, and that Somalia is committed to playing its full role in achieving that vision.
Meeting with Kenyan Speaker Moses Wetang’ula
On the sidelines of the Arusha meeting, Speaker Jama held a bilateral meeting with the Speaker of Kenya’s National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula. The two leaders discussed strengthening parliamentary cooperation, exchanging experiences and building institutional knowledge.
Both sides emphasised the role of their respective parliaments in representing the interests and aspirations of their peoples and the importance of relations based on mutual respect, understanding and shared interests that lead to peace, stability and development for both countries and the wider region.
Somalia’s Growing Role in Regional Parliamentary Diplomacy
Somalia’s participation in the EAC Speakers’ Bureau reflects its deepening engagement with the regional bloc since joining in March 2024. The country has been actively building its parliamentary relationships across East Africa. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of Somalia’s EALA participation, the East African Court of Appeal cleared the way for nine Somali lawmakers to take their seats at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in January 2026, following a legal dispute over the selection process.
The lawmakers were sworn in during a historic ceremony in Arusha on March 16, 2026, marking Somalia’s full entry into EALA’s governance framework. As detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the EALA election, the delegation includes figures such as Ambassador Zahra Ali Hassan, former Foreign Minister Dr. Abdisalam Omer, and World Bank adviser Abdirahman Bashir Shariff.
Somalia assumed the chairmanship of the EAC Speakers’ Bureau from Kenya in November 2025. The handover was described as a demonstration that no single member state dominates the community, with Kenya’s Senate Speaker Amason Kingi stating, “As Somalia now takes over, I believe that will send a very strong message that indeed we are one and as partner states we are equal.”
Critical Note
Speaker Jama’s chairing of the EAC Speakers’ Bureau meeting and Somalia’s successful bid to host the 22nd meeting in Mogadishu represent tangible diplomatic achievements. For a country that has spent decades rebuilding its international standing, hosting a regional parliamentary summit is a signal of normalisation and a vote of confidence from Somalia’s East African peers.
However, the gap between parliamentary diplomacy and practical integration remains wide. Somalia’s membership in the EAC has yet to produce significant economic benefits for ordinary Somalis. Trade barriers persist, infrastructure links remain underdeveloped, and the free movement of goods, services and people across the region is still constrained. The parliamentary meetings are important for building relationships and sharing experiences, but they are not a substitute for the policy decisions and investments needed to make integration meaningful.
Somalia’s parliamentary record, while notable in terms of legislation passed, also raises questions. The House of the People has approved 56 laws and 18 resolutions, but the quality, implementation and impact of those laws remain unclear. The constitutional review process remains contentious, with key Federal Member States opposed to the amendments passed in March 2026. Parliamentary diplomacy abroad does not resolve political disputes at home. For Somalia’s EAC engagement to deliver results, the country will need not only to show up at regional forums but to demonstrate that it is a stable and reliable partner.
