The Somali leader was among five heads of state attending the summit in person at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), alongside Kenya's William Ruto (current EAC chair), Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, and Burundi's Évariste Ndayishimiye. Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Democratic Republic of Congo's Félix Tshisekedi, and South Sudan's Salva Kiir delegated ministers to represent them.
For Somalia, the summit carries particular weight. Having officially joined the East African Community in late 2023 after a prolonged accession process, the country is working to translate its membership into tangible benefits. Participation in the Arusha gathering offers an opportunity to engage directly with regional partners and advocate for greater collaboration in trade, development, and stability.