Kampala, Uganda – Somalia’s parliamentary speaker, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, secured a landmark victory on Friday after being elected Chairperson of the East African Legislative Assembly for the 2025–2026 term during a regional gathering in Kampala, Uganda. His elevation to the bloc’s top legislative seat comes at a moment when Somalia is working to cement its place in the East African Community and demonstrate its readiness to help shape the region’s political and economic future.
Delegates in Kampala watched the Somali speaker stride to the podium with the confidence of a man representing both a nation in transition and a region seeking stronger unity. His message, delivered with characteristic calm and conviction, framed Somalia as a country determined to deepen cooperation with its neighbours after years of instability. Those familiar with his political journey saw the moment as a culmination of steady leadership that has earned him broad respect across East Africa.
The election also carried a deeply symbolic weight for Somalia. As he addressed fellow lawmakers, Madobe shared that the country is preparing to hold its first direct local elections in more than half a century. The announcement carried a sense of collective relief and cautious optimism—a sign that Somalia’s long-promised democratic reforms are finally taking root. For many Somalis, the prospect of casting a ballot in their own districts, after 56 years without such an opportunity, represents far more than a bureaucratic milestone; it is a step toward reclaiming political agency after generations marked by conflict and fragmented governance.
In regional capitals, the news was met with quiet validation of Somalia’s progress since joining the East African Community. Analysts say the speaker’s new role places Mogadishu closer to the center of regional decision-making, a shift that may help Somalia navigate challenges ranging from security threats to cross-border trade integration. It also signals the trust EAC partners are placing in Somalia at a delicate moment for the bloc.
Within Somalia, the announcement of impending elections has stirred a mix of hope and logistical concerns. Government institutions are being pushed to accelerate preparations—updating voter rolls, strengthening local administrations, and ensuring that communities long excluded from political life are able to participate. Yet the tone from Kampala suggested a country eager to deliver on its promises, not just to its neighbors but to its own people.
For Speaker Madobe, the new EALA chairmanship offers both a platform and a responsibility: to represent Somalia as a country reasserting itself on the regional stage, and to help guide the wider East African Community through an era of shifting politics and deepening integration. His election closed one chapter of regional diplomacy and opened another, one filled with expectations that Somalia is finally stepping into a more confident, participatory future.