Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Thursday held a high-level meeting in his Mogadishu office with the country’s newly elected representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), calling their appointment a “milestone in Somalia’s regional journey.”
The Prime Minister praised the delegation’s ascent to the regional parliament as a testament to Somalia’s growing influence within the East African Community (EAC), which the country formally joined last year after years of negotiation and institutional preparation.
“This is not merely a political appointment; it is a responsibility to defend Somalia’s national interests on a broader stage,” Barre told the delegates, according to officials present at the meeting.
In a firm yet optimistic tone, he urged the legislators to use their new positions to amplify Somalia’s perspective on trade, security, infrastructure, and freedom of movement within the bloc. He stressed that Somalia must not only participate in regional discussions but also shape them.
“Your voices must reflect the resilience and aspirations of our people. Somalia deserves to be heard clearly and confidently in Arusha,” he said, referring to EALA’s headquarters in Tanzania.
The Prime Minister also called on the delegation to champion policies that foster unity and economic integration among EAC member states, noting that cooperation rather than competition would bring tangible development to the region.
The meeting marked one of the new delegates’ first formal engagements since their election. While their legislative mandate will unfold in Arusha, Barre made it clear that their accountability remains firmly rooted at home.
“Carry Somalia with you in every decision. The nation is watching, and history will remember how you represented it,” he said.
The delegation is expected to depart for Arusha in the coming days to be officially sworn in alongside peers from other EAC member states.