Arusha, Tanzania(Mogadishu24)-Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed the 24th Ordinary Summit of East African Heads of State in Arusha, emphasizing Somalia’s commitment to regional integration and security.

Reflecting on the East African Community’s (EAC) transformative 25-year journey, President Mohamud outlined Somalia’s active role as the newest member of the eight-nation bloc.

The President underlined Somalia’s dedication to implementing the EAC’s integration pillars, including the Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and Political Federation. He highlighted Somalia’s alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area Strategy, underscoring the importance of eliminating trade barriers and fostering economic resilience.

Addressing peace and security, President Mohamud expressed concerns over regional instability, particularly the adverse effects of Ethiopia’s recent Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland on counter-terrorism efforts. He called for a robust Regional Peace and Security Framework and reiterated Somalia’s commitment to the EAC Counter-Terrorism Strategy and establishing a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.

Kenyan President William Ruto assumed the EAC Chairmanship from South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, while Somalia was designated as the bloc’s Rapporteur for the coming year. French and Kiswahili were also adopted as official EAC languages.

The Summit concluded with a collective call for solutions to regional conflicts, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while advancing integration through unified customs, markets, and a future single currency.