About The Bill

On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, the Somali House of the People convened its 30th sitting of the 7th Plenary Session of the 11th Federal Parliament of Somalia, during which a major regional agreement was formally approved. The session was chaired by the Speaker of the House, Adan Mohamed Nur, alongside the Second Deputy Speaker, Abdullahi Omar Abshirow. With a quorum of 144 Members of Parliament officially confirmed, the sitting proceeded in full compliance with the House’s provisional rules of procedure, enabling lawful deliberation and decision-making.

The principal agenda of the sitting was the consideration of the revised Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Agreement, which replaces the organization’s 1996 founding treaty. Following parliamentary debate, the House approved the Agreement with 141 votes in favor, 2 votes against, and 1 abstention. The Speaker formally announced the adoption of the Agreement and referred it to the relevant constitutional and executive institutions, thereby completing the parliamentary approval stage required for international agreements under Somalia’s constitutional framework.

Several core provisions of the Agreement attracted particular attention due to their strategic relevance for Somalia and the wider region. Articles 2 and 3 redefine the purpose, objectives, and goals of IGAD, emphasizing deeper regional integration, sustainable development, political cooperation, and economic transformation. These articles mark a clear shift from coordination-based cooperation toward a more structured and results-oriented regional framework, aligning IGAD with continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Equally significant are Articles 4 and 5, which establish the foundational principles and operational rules governing IGAD. These provisions affirm sovereign equality among member states, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful resolution of disputes, and a strong commitment to democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, gender equality, and respect for human rights. For parliamentary observers and civil society actors, these principles are particularly important as they embed governance and rights-based norms at the core of regional cooperation.

The Agreement’s institutional architecture, set out in Articles 10–23, also featured prominently during the approval process. These articles define the roles and mandates of the Summit of Heads of State and Government, the Council of Ministers, the Committee of Ambassadors, and the Executive Secretariat. Notably, Articles 19–21 strengthen the authority and capacity of the Executive Secretariat, enhancing its role in policy coordination, research, implementation oversight, financial management, and accountability—addressing long-standing institutional and operational challenges within IGAD.

In addition, Chapter Three (Articles 24–41) outlines the priority areas of regional cooperation, including trade and free movement, agriculture and food security, climate change and environmental management, energy, infrastructure, private-sector development, health, education, peace, security, and good governance. Of particular relevance are Articles 32 and 33, which explicitly recognize and promote the role of civil society, professionals, women, and girls, reinforcing inclusive participation and democratic engagement in regional development processes.

Throughout the sitting, the GoleKaab civil society observers’ team was present and actively monitored the plenary proceedings. The team observed quorum compliance, voting procedures, transparency, and the overall quality of parliamentary debate, with special attention to the consistency of the approval process with democratic accountability and constitutional obligations. Their presence underscored the vital role of civil society in safeguarding procedural integrity and ensuring that international commitments adopted by the House of the People reflect the public interest and adhere to Somalia’s provisional constitutional framework.

For more detailed information on the parliamentary-approved IGAD Agreement, please download the document here.