Somali Parliament approves East Africa standby force treaty with overwhelming majority
The Somali Parliament has officially ratified the founding agreement of the East Africa Standby Force (EASF), a regional security mechanism designed to enhance peacekeeping, crisis response, and collective security across East Africa.
The Members of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia have today approved the Agreement Establishing the East Africa Standby Force (EASF), marking a significant milestone in the country’s regional security cooperation efforts.
During the 17th sitting of the 7th session, chaired by the Speaker of the House,Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nuur (Madoobe), lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the treaty. A total of 144 MPs supported the agreement, one MP opposed, and two abstained.
State Minister for Defence, MP Omar Ali Abdi, delivered a briefing before the vote, thanking members of parliament for their support. He described the approval as an important step that reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security, promoting peace, and enhancing regional cooperation.
He further noted that the ratification comes at a symbolic moment, as Somalia recently hosted, for the first time, the 34th Meeting of Defence Ministers of EASF member states, a development he said highlights Somalia's growing leadership role in regional peace and security.
The East Africa Standby Force is part of the African Union's broader peace and security architecture, designed to provide rapid response capabilities for conflict prevention, peace support operations, and humanitarian crises.
Today's parliamentary approval is expected to pave the way for deeper integration between Somalia and its East African counterparts in advancing collective stability and security across the region.
