ARUSHA, Tanzania — Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) on Saturday endorsed the appointment of Somali national Hon. Avv. Abdiwahid Warsame Abdullahi as a judge in the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), during the bloc’s 25th Summit of Heads of State held in Arusha, Arlaadi Media reports.
The summit was attended by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and other regional leaders including the host Tanzanian leader Samia Suluhu.
Somalia’s ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali Hassan, welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant milestone for Somalia and the wider East African region.
“I extend my sincere congratulations to Hon. Avv. Abdiwahid Warsame Abdullahi on his appointment as a Judge of the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice, which was endorsed today at the 25th Summit of the Heads of State of the East African Community,” Hassan said in a statement.
“This is a proud achievement and honor for Somalia and the entire region,” he added, expressing confidence that Abdullahi’s experience would contribute to strengthening justice and the rule of law within the bloc.
Somalia joined the East African Community in 2023, becoming the regional bloc’s eighth member state alongside Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The admission marked a significant step in Somalia’s efforts to deepen regional integration and expand economic and political cooperation with its East African neighbors.
The East African Court of Justice, based in Arusha, serves as the judicial arm of the EAC and handles disputes related to the interpretation and application of the community’s treaty and laws. The court is divided into two chambers: the First Instance Division, which hears cases initially, and the Appellate Division, which hears appeals.
