Arusha, Tanzania – The East African Court of Justice has put the brakes on the induction of nine Somali nominees to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), following a lawsuit alleging corruption and political favoritism in their selection.
The legal challenge came from several would-be candidates who had each paid the required US$10,000 registration fee, only to claim they were unfairly sidelined. They asked the court to scrutinize what they called a “flawed and non-transparent” selection process that ultimately produced the nine nominees.
Instead of ordering the removal or replacement of the nominees, the court has temporarily suspended all induction proceedings until its final ruling. That decision will determine whether the current nominees can take their seats in Arusha or if Somalia must restart the selection process.
Somalia’s ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali, along with other senior officials, dismissed local media reports suggesting the court had directed Mogadishu to pick a new set of candidates. They stressed that, for now, the only action is a delay of the oath-taking ceremony while the case is reviewed.
The controversy has intensified as critics allege that the nominated roster favors individuals with close ties to Somalia’s top leadership, including the presidency, prime minister’s office, and parliamentary heads. Those challenging the process insist they were deliberately excluded from a fair competition.
The court’s final ruling will ultimately decide whether Somalia’s original nominees can proceed to the regional assembly or if authorities must conduct a more transparent and equitable selection.
