Somalia's accession to the East African Community: legal review, opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Somalia has been seeking admission into the East African Community since 2012. As the 23rd Ordinary Summit set for 24 November in Arusha, Tanzania closes in, Somalia is hopeful it will become the eighth member state. Since he was elected president of Somalia for the second time in May 2022, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has engaged his fellow EAC leaders in a bid to fast-track Somalia's admission, making it clear during his speech at the previous summit that 'Somalia belongs to East Africa'.