President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said joining the regional trade bloc was a “beacon of hope” for Somalia. Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991 and many parts of the country are controlled by jihadist group al-Shabab. Some of its neighbours have sent troops to help fight the Islamist group, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda. The decision to admit Somalia was made after a meeting of heads of member states in Arusha, Tanzania.
