By Avv. Omar Khalif Abdi - Licensed lawyer, policy strategist, and legal drafter at Somalia’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
“Somalia has entered the Community, but the real test is whether this decision can lead to better laws, stronger institutions, more jobs and easier trade.” Avv. Omar Khalif Abdi
On 12 and 13 October 2026, I attended the East African Community Conference 2026 (EACON 2026) at Amara Hotel in Mogadishu. For two days, the city became a meeting point for discussions about Somalia’s place in East Africa and what membership should mean for ordinary people.
Under the theme “Deepening Somalia’s EAC Integration through Treaty Domestication, Trade Competitiveness and Human Capital Development,” the conference focused on making membership useful in practice. My main reflection is simple: Somalia has entered the Community, but the real test is whether membership can lead to better laws, stronger institutions, more jobs and easier trade.
Membership Is the Beginning, Not the Finish#
Joining a regional organization does not automatically create economic growth. Membership gives Somalia a seat at the table and access to regional markets and cooperation, but it does not make businesses competitive or ensure institutions are ready.
EACON 2026 highlighted the gap between formal accession and practical results. Somalia needs a plan connecting regional commitments with decisions by ministries, regulators, businesses, universities and local authorities. Otherwise, integration risks remaining a phrase repeated at conferences rather than a change people can see in daily life.
The Legal Work Must Move Faster#
Treaty domestication and legal alignment were major issues on the conference programme. These technical matters affect trade, services and how Somalia fulfils its obligations. The EAC Treaty and related protocols must be considered alongside Somalia’s constitutional and legislative procedures.
Government institutions should identify which laws need amendment, which new laws are required and which regulations or systems must be developed. This work needs a coordinated legal gap assessment, clear responsibilities, realistic deadlines and regular progress reports. It cannot be left to one ministry or treated as a short-term exercise.
Coordination and Capacity Matter#
Good laws will not deliver results if institutions lack capacity or fail to work together. Trade, education, finance, planning, transport, fisheries, customs and justice all have a role. Without a shared plan, their policies can pull in different directions.
Somalia should establish a coordination mechanism that assigns a lead agency for each commitment and tracks progress against agreed indicators. Federal and Federal Member State institutions should be involved where their mandates are affected. Cooperation must become routine, rather than depend on personal relationships or occasional meetings.
Somali Businesses Need a Fair Chance to Compete#
A larger regional market can create opportunities for Somali exporters, service providers and producers, but it also brings stronger competition. Somali businesses need reliable standards, clear licensing rules, efficient customs, better access to finance and practical information about regional requirements.
Small businesses will need support to understand and meet these requirements. Business associations, chambers of commerce, banks and public agencies can help firms improve quality and build regional partnerships. Integration should make it easier to grow a business, not simply add to its regulatory burden.
Ports and the Blue Economy Are Strategic Assets#
Somalia’s coastline, ports, fisheries and maritime location give it an important role in East African trade. EACON 2026 highlighted transport corridors, ports, the blue economy and connections between production and markets. But geography alone is not an economic strategy.
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Ports need dependable road connections, modern logistics and predictable regulation. Fisheries require responsible management, cold storage, processing and market access. Investment proposals must be financially credible and properly overseen. With the right systems, Somalia’s maritime assets can support jobs at home and connect the region to international markets.
Investment Needs Trust and Preparation#
The conference considered how Somalia can attract regional investment and turn broad ideas into viable projects. Investors need clear rules, reliable information, fair procurement and predictable tax and licensing processes.
Public-private partnerships can support infrastructure and services, but they must protect the public interest and distribute risks fairly. Somalia should develop a transparent pipeline of priority projects supported by feasibility studies, cost estimates, safeguards and accountable institutions. Diaspora and regional investment can contribute, but neither replaces sound project preparation and responsible public administration.
Human Capital Will Decide the Outcome#
Regional integration depends on people as much as laws and infrastructure. Somali students, workers, professionals and entrepreneurs need skills to study, work and compete across borders. Education and training should respond to labour-market needs, including technical skills, digital capability, professional standards, research and entrepreneurship.
The EAC Executive Course, officially launched at the conference by H.E. Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, Somalia’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, could help officials and stakeholders understand the Community’s institutions and obligations. For lasting value, it should be practical, accessible and linked to continuing training and measurable improvements.
Promoting Kiswahili in Somalia’s education curriculum was another idea discussed around the conference. The language could help students, traders, public servants and young professionals communicate with neighbours and access information. But curriculum changes require trained teachers, materials, time and consultation with education authorities. Kiswahili should complement Somali and other languages. A pilot in selected schools or vocational institutions could test demand and teaching methods before a wider rollout.
From Conference Words to Public Results#
The opportunities are substantial, but the challenges are real. Somalia continues to face insecurity, limited institutional capacity, uneven infrastructure, unemployment and gaps in regulatory enforcement. Businesses may struggle to meet regional standards, and weak coordination can delay commitments. There is also a risk that benefits will be concentrated among a few firms or urban centres.
These problems should guide the order and pace of reform, not become reasons to retreat from regional cooperation. The government must explain costs and obligations honestly, support vulnerable businesses and workers, and ensure trade and investment deliver wider public benefits.
EACON 2026 brought government, regional and international representatives, businesses, academics and other stakeholders together around a shared question: how can Somalia gain practical value from EAC membership? The next step must be delivery. Conference recommendations should become a public action plan with measurable targets, assigned responsibilities, funding and regular progress updates.
Success should be judged by aligned laws, easier trade, viable investment projects, improved skills and new opportunities for citizens. Somalia has joined the EAC; now it must build the capacity to make membership work.
About the Author:
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Avv. Omar Khalif Abdi is a licensed lawyer, policy strategist, and legal drafter at Somalia’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawan Africa.