In a major diplomatic victory for Somalia, the Tanzanian government has decisively blocked a controversial seminar that was set to question the legitimacy of Somalia’s newly secured membership in the East African Community (EAC).
The seminar, organized by foreign-linked think tanks and advocacy groups including Institute for Security Studies and Sahan Research was perceived by Somali officials and regional analysts as a coordinated campaign to discredit Somalia’s place within the bloc, rather than a genuine platform for policy dialogue.
Tanzania’s move to cancel the event was far from routine. As host to the EAC Secretariat and key regional institutions, Dar es Salaam carries significant symbolic and political weight in East African affairs. Allowing a semi-official critique of a fellow member state within its borders would have not only risked undermining Somalia’s standing but also set a dangerous precedent for the bloc particularly for post-conflict or fragile states seeking integration. By intervening, Tanzania sent a clear message: regional solidarity must not be compromised by unofficial and politically charged agendas.
The seminar, titled “Somalia’s Accession to the EAC: Navigating Regional Integration, Peace, and Economic Transformation,” was scheduled for August 25–26, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton in Dar es Salaam.
A source confirmed that the EAC Secretariat itself told the organizers that it had received a formal protest letter from the Government of Somalia, transmitted through the Somali Embassy, and that the seminar must be cancelled immediately. This direct communication effectively sealed the fate of the event, leaving organizers with no choice but to comply. Details of this intervention later surfaced through diplomatic channels and were leaked to media platforms.
“This was not about academic exchange; it was about delegitimization. The embassy recognized the danger early, lodged a formal protest, and worked tirelessly with Tanzanian counterparts and the EAC Secretariat to prevent it. The cancellation is as much a victory for Somalia’s diplomacy as it is for Tanzania’s regional leadership.” A senior official familiar with the matter stated.
The venue’s proximity to the EAC Secretariat and the East African Legislative Assembly appeared calculated to influence regional discourse from the heart of East Africa’s diplomatic hub. Yet, it never materialized. Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened at the eleventh hour, citing national interest and regional cohesion as the basis for shutting it down. Somali officials, who had not been consulted about the event, welcomed the move as a necessary defense of their country’s sovereignty and legitimacy.
While the seminar was branded as an academic discussion on regional integration, its structure, speaker list, and core discussion topics betrayed its political undertones. Among the leading voices was Rashid Abdi of Sahan Research, a foreign funded organization Somali authorities have long accused of furthering foreign policy agendas misaligned with Somalia’s national interests.
Other panelists were affiliated with Western security think tanks and institutions that have historically framed Somalia as a fragile and volatile state, unfit for regional partnerships.
The topics planned for discussion made no secret of their critical slant. Panels were set to focus on Somalia’s internal federal structure, its maritime borders, and constitutional uncertainties framed in ways that cast Somalia as a security risk and economic liability for the EAC. Particularly provocative were titles such as “Somalia’s Security Mismatch with EAC Trade Ambitions” and “Structural Drivers of Conflict in Somalia.”
Notably absent was any Somali government representation an omission viewed by many as a deliberate attempt to shape the narrative without offering Somalia the right to reply.
Adding to the controversy, the seminar’s keynote speaker was revealed to be Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, a Kenyan-Somali with deep ties in the region. While his background may have signaled inclusivity on the surface, Somali officials saw his participation in the event, perceived to be hostile to Somalia’s interests as deeply troubling.
The political sensitivity of the situation was further underscored by recent diplomatic engagements between Somalia and Tanzania. Just months before the event was scheduled, a high-level Somali delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Ambassador Abdisalam Abdi Ali, visited Tanzania on an official working trip. Central to the visit was the inauguration of the newly renovated Somali Embassy in Dar es Salaam, a significant milestone reflecting Somalia’s expanding diplomatic presence in the region.
The Somali delegation also participated in Tanzania’s 65th Independence Day celebrations, underscoring the historical and fraternal ties between the two countries. During the visit, Somali and Tanzanian officials held a series of bilateral meetings focused on deepening cooperation across critical sectors.
Talks covered defense and regional peace, health system collaboration, tourism promotion, aviation links including the establishment of direct flights between Mogadishu and Dar es Salaam and broader strategic cooperation.
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo recently also made a historic visit to Mogadishu, where further discussions were held to solidify relations and expand avenues for bilateral partnership. These developments reflect a maturing and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations, and Tanzania’s swift action to block the controversial seminar may be seen, in part, as a gesture of diplomatic solidarity.
Somali experts believe the seminar’s ultimate aim was to generate a policy brief that could be used to advocate for the suspension, revision, or heavy conditioning of Somalia’s EAC membership.
“This was never about fostering integration,” said a senior Somali expert, speaking to Somali Stream on condition of anonymity. “It was about manufacturing regional consensus that Somalia does not belong. That’s not diplomacy, that’s neocolonialism. Somalia’s path forward requires not only domestic reform and stability but sustained diplomatic vigilance. It must guard against foreign narratives that seek to delegitimize its progress from outside the continent under the guise of expert analysis, policy reflection, or academic discourse.”
Somalia’s entrance into the EAC is still in its infancy. The country has committed to harmonizing its tariff systems, expanding infrastructure links, and reforming federal institutions to meet EAC standards. It has also pledged contributions to the EAC budget and has begun aligning its domestic policies with bloc regulations.
But the blocking of the Dar es Salaam seminar was only one battle. With the EAC general summit scheduled for 2026 and Somalia’s full integration still in progress, Somali officials remain on high alert for future efforts both overt and covert that could undermine their country’s role in the region.
Tanzania’s intervention may have bought time, but the broader struggle for fair representation and regional acceptance continues.