Eala to have more members with Somalia’s official admission

Arusha. The number of elected MPs to the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) will increase to 72 following the admission of Somalia into the East African Community (EAC).

The Horn of Africa country is also expected to appoint a judge who will sit in the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

This was announced here on Monday by the Counsel to the EAC, Dr Anthony Kafumbe, after Somalia deposited the Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty of Accession to the Community.

With the deposit of key instruments, Somalia is now free to participate in all activities and programmes of the EAC “now that it is a full member of the bloc.”

Somalia, which was declared a new EAC member last November during the Heads of State Summit, is also required to designate a ministry to coordinate EAC matters as per the Treaty.

“It is expected to elect nine members of Parliament to Eala and appoint a Judge of EACJ,” Dr Kafumbe said during a high-profile event held at the EAC headquarters.

Eala, the legislative organ of the Community, currently has a total of 63 elected MPs—nine from each of the eight partner states before Somalia’s admission.

In addition to the elected MPs, there are nine ex-officio members—one from each member nation—who are the ministers responsible for EAC Affairs.

The list of ex-officio Eala members also includes the EAC secretary general, the organisation’s CEO, and the Counsel to the Community (CTC), the chief legal advisor.

With the formal admission of Somalia to the bloc, the total number of members of the House will rise to 82, which includes 72 elected MPs, eight ministers and the SG and CTC.

According to Article 50 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, Eala members are elected by their respective countries’s national legislatures.

Article 50 also calls upon said members to reflect their country’s political parties, opinions, gender composition and other special groups.

Besides serving as the legislative organ of the community, Eala is also tasked with liaising with the national assemblies of the partner states “on matters relating to the community.”

Somalia’s minister for Commerce and Industry Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, presented the Horn of Africa nation’s Instrument of Ratification to the EAC secretary general, Peter Mathuki.

The presentation on Monday completed the long admission process, which included verification of the set criteria in line with the EAC Procedure for Admission of New Members.

Dr Mathuki said Somalia now has the green light to contribute to the development of a roadmap for her integration into the regional organisation.

Among the key commitments the new member has to implement for full integration are the Customs Union, the Common Market and the Monetary Union protocols.