Somali Opposition MPs Raise Concerns Over EAC Representation Process

Mogadishu, October 15, 2025 – Member of Parliament Mursal Khalif has publicly shared a statement issued by Somali opposition legislators expressing concerns over what they describe as procedural irregularities and lack of inclusivity in the recent selection of Somalia’s representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), MP Khalif wrote:

“We, Somali opposition legislators, write to @jumuiya Parliament Speaker, Hon Joseph Ntakirutimana, & Secretary General @SGNduva on the irregularities and lack of inclusivity surrounding selection (not election) process of Somalia’s EAC parliament representatives. @SuluhuSamia”

The shared statement, dated October 13, 2025, is addressed to the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, and outlines alleged breaches in the procedures for nominating EALA members. The document argues that the Somali Federal President and the Speaker of the Federal Parliament have unilaterally nominated candidates, bypassing established parliamentary mechanisms designed to ensure inclusivity and transparency.

According to the letter, the committee responsible for the vetting process consisted entirely of members aligned with the ruling party, raising concerns over impartiality and fairness. The five-day election schedule, running from October 11 to 15, is also criticized as “extremely compressed and exclusionary,” leaving little room for open participation.

The document argues that the Somali Federal President and the Speaker of the Federal Parliament have unilaterally nominated candidates

The statement calls on the EALA Speaker to nullify the current proposal and to ensure that Somalia’s representation process adheres to Article 50 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, which emphasizes democratic integrity and proportional representation among partner states.

The committee responsible for the vetting process consisted entirely of members aligned with the ruling party, raising concerns over impartiality and fairness. The five-day election schedule, running from October 11 to 15, is also criticized as “extremely compressed and exclusionary

Neither the Somali Federal Parliament Speaker’s office nor government representatives have issued an official response to the opposition MPs’ claims as of publication time.