Somali Jurist Abdiwahid Warsame Abdullahi Sworn in as Judge at East African Court of JusticeA Somali legal expert has officially joined the East African Court of Justice, marking an important step in Somalia’s growing participation within institutions of the East African Community (EAC).
Judge Abdiwahid Warsame Abdullahi was sworn in as a judge of the court’s First Instance Division during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State held in Arusha.
The ceremony formally inducted him into the regional judicial body responsible for interpreting and applying the EAC Treaty.
The summit was attended by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who joined other regional leaders for discussions on cooperation, security, and economic integration across East Africa.
Somalia’s ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali Hassan, welcomed the appointment, describing Judge Abdiwahid as an experienced legal professional whose expertise will contribute to strengthening justice and the rule of law within the regional bloc.
Before his appointment, Judge Abdiwahid served as a state prosecutor at the Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu. He also holds a Master of Laws degree in comparative and constitutional law from Ohio State University and previously worked in the United States as a case reviewer and legal counsel in the prosecution division of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office.
Somalia joined the East African Community in 2023, becoming the bloc’s eighth member state alongside Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Officials also note that the appointment will help strengthen legal confidence for Somali investors and traders working within EAC markets, while supporting the country’s broader integration into the regional economic system.
