Reasons Why Somalia Should Continue Pursuing EAC Membership
Despite the fact that Somalia is still struggling for stability, there is no harm in its administration to pursue membership into any regional inter-governmental entities. This is because it needs allies and friends while on its path to political stability and economic prosperity. East African Community (EAC) which is an intergovernmental organisation composed of six member states in East Africa, is one of the entities Somalia that is seeking its membership. There are several reasons why Somalia should continue pursuing membership in the East African Community (EAC).
- Economic Integration: Becoming a member of the EAC would facilitate economic integration with neighbouring countries, promoting trade and investment opportunities. Somalia could benefit from the EAC’s common market, which allows for the free movement of goods, services, and capital among member states. This integration would lead to increased cross-border trade, attracting foreign investment and stimulating economic growth for Somalia.
- Access to a Larger Market: By joining the EAC, Somalia would gain access to a larger regional market of over 180 million people. This expanded market would offer new opportunities for Somali businesses to expand their customer base and increase exports. The EAC’s common market also reduces trade barriers, such as tariffs and non-tariff barriers, making it easier for Somali products to reach consumers in other member states.
- Infrastructure Development: The EAC strongly emphasises infrastructure development within the region. Joining the community would enable Somalia to benefit from the EAC’s regional infrastructure projects, such as roads, railways, and energy networks. These projects aim to improve connectivity, enhance transportation links, and boost regional trade, ultimately supporting Somalia’s economic development and integration.
- Political Stability: Membership in the EAC can contribute to political stability in Somalia. The organisation promotes regional cooperation, dialogue, and conflict resolution mechanisms, which can help mitigate conflicts and foster peaceful relations between member states. The EAC’s focus on good governance, democracy, and the rule of law aligns with Somalia’s goals for stability, security, and democratic control.
- Regional Security Cooperation: Joining the EAC would provide Somalia with a platform to enhance its security cooperation with neighbouring countries. The EAC has established a regional security framework to address common security challenges, including terrorism, transnational crime, and border disputes. By participating in these initiatives, Somalia can collaborate with other member states to strengthen regional security mechanisms and combat shared threats.
- Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: The EAC offers various capacity-building programs and technical assistance to member states. By becoming a member, Somalia would have access to these resources, which can support the country’s institutional development, governance reforms, and economic diversification efforts. The EAC can provide training, knowledge-sharing platforms, and expertise in areas such as agriculture, trade facilitation, health, and education.
- Cultural Exchange and People-to-People Connections: EAC membership would foster cultural exchange and people-to-people connections between Somalia and other member states. This would promote understanding, tolerance, and appreciation of diverse cultures, traditions, and languages within the region. Closer people-to-people ties can also lead to increased tourism, educational opportunities, and collaborations in various fields, further enriching Somalia’s social and cultural fabric.
- Regional Cooperation in Natural Resource Management: Somalia is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals, and fisheries. Joining the EAC would enable Somalia to engage in regional cooperation frameworks for the sustainable management and utilisation of these resources. The EAC promotes responsible resource extraction, environmental conservation, and equitable distribution of benefits, ensuring that Somalia’s natural wealth is harnessed for the country’s long-term development.
- Promotion of International Trade: Trading with foreign countries like USA and China as individual countries would put Somalia at a disadvantage. However, by being part of a regional bloc like the EAC, which has trade agreements with countries like the USA, Russia and China, Somalia can strengthen its bargaining power in trade negotiations with global economic powers like the United States and China. The EAC’s collective voice and negotiating capacity can help Somalia secure more favourable trade terms, reduce tariffs, and address non-tariff barriers with thesemajor trading partners. Moreover, by aligning its trade practices with regional standards, Somalia can enhance its competitiveness and streamline its trade processes. This harmonisation can facilitate trade with the United States and China by reducing regulatory hurdles and improving product quality, meeting the requirements of these markets.
- Access to Quality Education for its People: EAC membership opens up opportunities for Somali citizens willing to study in the best universities in the East African region, like the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Makerere University, and the University of Dar es Salaam, among others. Currently, there are over 10,000 students from Somalia studying in universities in various EAC member states, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Just imagine how it would be if Somalia became a member of EAC and their citizens were able to access quality everywhere within the EAC region!
- The attraction of Foreign Investment: EAC membership can attract foreign investment to Somalia by signalling a commitment to regional integration and stability. Investors often prefer to operate in a larger market with harmonised regulations, and EAC membership can enhance Somalia’s appeal as an investment destination. In addition, the EAC has established protocols and agreements to protect and promote foreign investment within the region. Somalia’s EAC memberships would guarantee benefits from these investment protection mechanisms, which provide a more stable and predictable investment environment. This assurance can attract foreign investors who seek legal safeguards for their investments.
Some Academics and experts might not understand the reasons why Somalia want to be part of EAC.
The article titled “President Hassan Must be Forced to Withdraw Somalia’s EAC Membership Application: It’s an Attack on the Country’s Existence, Sovereignty, Language, and Religion”, authored by Abdi Barre Yusuf Jibril and published in The Star, highlights reasons why Somalia should be forced to withdraw its EAC membership application. However, the article presents a one-sided perspective that fails to consider the potential benefits of Somalia’s membership in the East African Community (EAC). I seek to shed light on the flaws in the arguments put forth in the article and provide a more factual perspective on the matter.
- Misrepresentation of EAC Membership: The article starts by asserting that Somalia’s EAC membership application constitutes an attack on the country’s existence, sovereignty, language, and religion. However, it fails to provide any substantial evidence to support this claim. The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation focused on promoting regional integration, economic growth, and social development among its member states. Joining the EAC would not automatically undermine Somalia’s existence, sovereignty, language, or religion. Instead, it could potentially bring various advantages, such as increased trade opportunities and access to regional infrastructure development. The article focuses on short-term challenges that Somalia may face when they become an EAC member and fail to acknowledge the long-term benefits. The article gives an example of South Sudan, which became an EAC member in 2016 and claimed that they have nothingto show from its membership. However, though South Sudan is still struggling to resolve internal conflicts, EAC is making efforts to make things are better for South Sudan. Just bear in mind that internal conflicts in any country can only be effectively resolved by internal actors with the help of external actors like EAC, AU and UN. Hence, it’s not fair to impose the sole responsibility of resolving conflicts in South Sudan on EAC member states. Apart from EACnothelping in resolving conflicts. Nevertheless,South Sudan has benefittedsince 2016 in various ways, including expanded access to the larger EAC market for their agricultural products, reduced barriers in exporting its oil resources more efficiently to other EAC member countries and access to EAC educational exchange initiatives which have seen many South Sudanese study in member states like Kenya and Uganda. In addition, the article fails to highlight how Somalia has benefited from ATMIS,in which most Soldiers came from neighbouring EAC member states, including Kenya and Uganda.
- Ignoring Potential Benefits: The article neglects to acknowledge the potential benefits that Somalia could derive from joining the EAC. There could be challenges, as the article suggests, but only in the short run because Somalia has not yet stabilised. But in the long run, when Somalia is stable, it will need development allies of EAC member states. Membership in EAC would enable Somalia to participate in regional decision-making processes, fostering cooperation on various issues such as trade, security, and infrastructure development. By integrating its economy with those of neighbouring countries, Somalia can enhance its trade relations, attract investments, and promote economic growth. This, in turn, could contribute to poverty reduction and improved living conditions for Somali citizens.
- False Allegation on Treatment of Citizens of Somali Origin in EAC member states: The articles allege that Citizens of Somali origin have been marginalised and treated unfairly in some EAC member states like Kenya. It claims, and I quote, “It’s unlikely that Somali citizens will have an easy ride in Kenya, where Kenyans of Somali origin are already treated as second-class citizens“. But I bet to differ. This is because, over the years, Kenyan citizens of Somali origin have beenselected to high-level of government positionsand have been appointed to head various independent entities of government. For instance, Ahmed Issack Hassan was appointed to be Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) between November 2011 to October 6, 2016. In addition, Noordin Haji was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions by President Uhuru Kenyatta between 2018 and 2023. Currently, President William Ruto has appointed various Kenyan citizens of Somali origin into various government positions, including Aden Bare Duale (Minister of Defence), Mohamed Hassan (Member, President’s Council of Economic Advisors) and Hussein Mohamed (State House Spokesperson), among others. Furthermore, Kenyan Citizens of Somali origin have been givenopportunities to thrive in entrepreneurship, with 90% of businesses in Eastleigh and Luthuli Avenue being owned by them. A few Kenyan Citizens of Somali origin who have been investigated, linked to Al-Shabaab terror attacks and jailed cannot be used as scapegoats to assert that all Kenyan citizens of Somali origin are labelled terrorists.
- Misunderstanding of Sovereignty: The article argues that Somalia’s EAC membership would undermine its sovereignty. However, sovereignty in the context of regional organisations like the EAC is not absolute but rather involves a degree of shared decision-making and cooperation. Member states willingly delegate certain powers to regional bodies to achieve common goals and enhance their collective interests. Somalia’s membership in the EAC would not infringe upon its sovereignty but would rather provide an avenue for increased regional collaboration.
- Language and Religion: The article suggests that joining the EAC could pose a threat to Somalia’s language and religion without providing any substantial evidence to support this claim. Regional integration does not require member states to abandon their language or religion. It is essential to recognise that joining the EAC does not imply a loss of cultural identity but rather an opportunity for cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and cooperation among diverse nations. Membership in EAC does not mean a change in language, as there are member states with completely different official languages. For example, the official language of Tanzania is Swahili. For Kenya is English and Swahili, and for Burundi is Kirundi and French.
- Lack of Alternatives: The article fails to consider the potential consequences of Somalia withdrawing its membership application from the EAC. It is crucial to analyse the long-term implications of such a decision, as it could limit Somalia’s access to regional markets, impede infrastructure development, and hinder its ability to tackle transnational challenges such as terrorism and climate change. Withdrawal would isolate Somalia from the benefits of regional integration and hamper its progress towards economic stability and development.
- Ignoring Regional Cooperation: The article overlooks the importance of regional cooperation in addressing common challenges. Joining the EAC would enable Somalia to collaborate with neighbouring countries to tackle issues such as regional security, cross-border conflicts, and shared resource management. It is through regional platforms like the EAC that governments can foster trust, promote dialogue, and work towards sustainable peace and stability.
Conclusion
There are more advantages than disadvantages that could arise from EAC membership that have been overlooked by the article. Though I agree there may be difficulties and challenges at the beginning, its long-term benefits would outbalance the initial challenges. We have to look into the future and see how Somalia stands to benefit from EAC membership. Somalia’s membership in EAC would not only contribute to economic growth and development but would also foster regional cooperation and peace. In summary, Membership in EAC would guarantee Somalia benefits such as increased trade and investment opportunities with other EAC member states, access to a larger market, free movement of goods and services within the community, benefit from regional security initiatives, joint efforts against terrorism and extremism and attraction of foreign investment. Although I agree that there could be challenges at the beginning, it is hard to ignore the long-term benefits.
By Abdullahi Mohodin Hassan (Abdullahi Yabarow)
LLM
Twitter: @siigaale1
