By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 3 December 2025 — Somalia’s House of the People approved the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Agreement on Wednesday, underscoring the country’s commitment to regional security mechanisms.The vote took place during the 17th meeting of the 7th parliamentary session, chaired by House Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur. Of 147 members present, 144 voted in favor, one opposed, and two abstained.Deputy Defence Minister Omar Ali Abdi thanked lawmakers for their approval, describing it as a demonstration of Somalia’s commitment to peace, security, and regional cooperation.The document moves to the Upper House for debate and final approval before presidential assent.EASF is a regional rapid-response force of 10 Eastern African states, tasked with peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and humanitarian operations under the African Standby Force framework.Unlike others, EASF is a “standby” regional mechanism: member states commit to contributing forces—including military, police, and civilian components—when needed, rather than maintaining a fixed permanent multinational army.
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