Mogadishu, Somalia – The House of People within Somalia’s Federal Parliament has formally approved the agreement for creating the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) during today’s parliamentary session at the Mogadishu Parliament headquarters.
This session constituted the 17th meeting of the 7th parliamentary session, with the Speaker of the House of People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur, presiding. The initiative garnered substantial backing from lawmakers, demonstrating a collective approach to regional security integration.
The official tally presented by the Speaker indicated:
– 144 Members of Parliament endorsed the agreement.
– 1 MP opposed it.
– 2 MPs refrained from voting.
Subsequent to the voting, State Minister of Defense MP Omar Ali Abdi addressed the assembly, thanking legislators for their decisive stance. He characterized the ratification as a pivotal move that underscores Somalia’s steadfast dedication and perspective on bolstering security, peace, and collaborative efforts throughout East Africa.
The minister additionally underscored the importance of this ratification’s timing, noting it occurs shortly after Somalia hosted the 34th Meeting of the EASF Council of Ministers of Defense and Security earlier in the year. He stressed that these developments collectively showcase the growing leadership Somalia is demonstrating in regional stability and defense frameworks.
The EASF operates as a regional entity tasked with advancing peace and security capacities. Somalia’s official endorsement of its founding agreement reinforces the nation’s standing as a significant participant in East Africa’s collective security arrangement.
