At the 47th EAC Council of Ministers meeting in Arusha, Ambassador Ilyas Ali Hassan applauded the East African Community’s advancements in trade, security, and economic cooperation, while reaffirming Somalia’s full commitment to the bloc’s shared vision.
Highlighting the EAC’s core principles of solidarity and free movement, Ambassador Hassan called for the removal of visa restrictions and travel barriers imposed on Somali citizens. He stressed that such measures contradict the spirit of equal treatment and regional integration, urging member states to foster seamless movement of people and goods across borders.
“Somalia is ready to fully integrate into the EAC, but this requires reciprocity and trust,” he stated. “Our citizens deserve the same freedoms enjoyed by their East African brothers and sisters.”
The appeal aligns with the EAC’s goal of a unified market and comes as Somalia continues to strengthen ties with partner states.