Somalia has renewed interest in joining the East African
Community (EAC), cementing the desire of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to
stabilise ties with neighbours.
President Mohamud, who won the presidential polls in
May, was expected in Arusha on Thursday as a special guest to attend the 21st
Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State. And Villa Somalia, his official
residence, said his trip would also be about renewing his push to join the
regional bloc.
“President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is leaving tomorrow
(Thursday) for Arusha in Tanzania to seek support for to join the East African
Community (EAC), which if possible will benefit the Somali people,” his office
said on Wednesday.
Mr Mohamud had attempted joining the EAC in his first
term between 2012 and 2017, but the bloc initially refused the application,
citing sporadic conflict and weak institutions in Somalia. But Mogadishu got
back its hope after an equally troubled South Sudan was admitted in 2016.
In 2019, then President Mohamed Farmaajo reapplied
alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last February, the bloc decided to
begin admitting Kinshasa but delayed a decision on Mogadishu, pending
verification by a team of experts to determine Somalia’s readiness.
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