MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The East African Court of Justice has suspended the swearing-in of nine individuals selected to represent Somalia in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), following a legal challenge over alleged corruption and political favouritism in the selection process.
The ruling was issued after several prospective candidates, who had each paid a mandatory US$10,000 registration fee, argued they had been unlawfully excluded from the race. They asked the court to review what they described as a flawed and opaque process that produced the nine nominees.
The court has not ordered the removal or replacement of the nominees but has frozen all steps related to their induction until it delivers a final judgment. That decision is expected to determine whether the nine members will take up their seats in Arusha or whether Somalia must restart the selection procedure.
Somalia’s ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali, along with other senior officials, rejected claims circulating in local media that the court had already instructed Mogadishu to choose a new slate of candidates. They stressed that the only action taken so far is the postponement of the oath-taking ceremony while the case is assessed.
Allegations surrounding the nominations have intensified in recent weeks, with critics arguing that the list favoured individuals with close ties to senior figures in government, including the presidency, the prime minister’s office and parliamentary leadership. Opponents of the process maintain they were deliberately prevented from competing in an open contest.
The court’s final ruling will determine whether Somalia’s first delegation to the regional assembly proceeds as selected or whether the government will be compelled to conduct a more transparent and competitive process.
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