Somalia and the East African Community

The Heritage Institute published in November 2023 a study titled "Somalia's Accession to the East African Community: Legal Review, Opportunities and Challenges" by Bashir M. Sheikh-Ali.  

Somalia has been seeking admission to the East African Community (EAC) since 2012.  But Somalia is still recovering from civil war and suffers from violent extremism, corruption and recurrent constitutional crises. The EAC criteria for admission emphasize good governance, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and social justice.  The report investigates the opportunities and challenges Somalia would face if it were admitted into the EAC.

Somalia Must Learn to Stand Alone

 Foreign Affairs published on 25 November 2020 a commentary titled "Somalia Must Learn to Stand Alone: Before It Can Stand Together with the Rest of the Horn of Africa" by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president of Somalia from 2012 to 2017.  

The author argues that neither Ethiopia nor Somalia is ready for deeper integration.  Ethiopia is sliding toward instability and preoccupied with both internal ethnic conflicts and border disputes with Somalia and Eritrea.  Somalia is too politically fragmented, fragile, and imperiled by extremists such as al-Shabaab to benefit much from regional integration right now.  

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Calls for African Internal Cohesion

 Project Syndicate published on 9 September 2020 a commentary titled "Africa's Peace and Prosperity Begin at Home" by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed opens with the statement that "Africans must take responsibility for our continent's affairs."  It is very hard to disagree with the statement.  He adds that "Africa's ability to become a strong geopolitical force hinges on its own internal cohesion and economic integration."  Another truism, but is it not also time to apply these goals to Ethiopia?