By Zamzam Daqare - Reporter
MOGADISHU, 12 October 2026 — SIMAD University and Somali National University launched a new postgraduate diploma on Monday to train Somali professionals to implement East African Community agreements.
The programme, titled EAC Executive Integration Course: Postgraduate Diploma, was unveiled during the East Africa Community Conference (EACON 2026), which opened in Mogadishu on Monday.
The 14-week course is designed to provide knowledge of the EAC’s institutional structure, legal agreements and economic opportunities arising from integration.
According to the curriculum, the programme comprises three components: institutional integration, legal harmonisation and economic integration.
The first, covering the initial five weeks, examines the history of the EAC, its institutional structure, decision-making processes and the functions of key bodies, including the Council of Ministers, the East African Legislative Assembly and the East African Court of Justice.
The second focuses on the relationship between EAC law and domestic legislation of member states, covering implementation of regional agreements, legal obligations and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
The third, running from weeks seven to 14, addresses economic integration, particularly the Customs Union, Common Market, movement of workers, goods and services, and trade barriers.
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Participants will also examine cooperation in infrastructure, transport, energy, agriculture and technology, alongside opportunities arising from economic integration.
The programme combines academic instruction with practical training, including case studies, analysis of East African Court of Justice rulings, negotiation exercises and preparation of policy and legal recommendations.
It is intended for government officials, particularly those working in trade, finance, foreign affairs and justice, as well as judges, lawyers, business professionals, researchers, postgraduate students and journalists covering regional affairs.
The course will be delivered through a combination of in-person and online classes.
Participants who fulfil requirements and successfully complete assessments will receive a certificate jointly issued by SIMAD University and Somali National University.
The launch comes as Somalia works to implement EAC agreements following its formal admission as the bloc’s eighth member in March 2024.
The two universities said the programme is intended to prepare professionals capable of understanding and implementing regional agreements and developing practical recommendations to help Somalia benefit from its membership.