EALA

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the regional parliament of the East African Community (EAC), a regional intergovernmental organization comprising member states in the African Great Lakes and surrounding regions. It was established under the treaty that created the EAC to serve as a legislative body for matters within the community’s mandate and to provide oversight of the EAC institutions.

Membership in EALA is drawn from the member states’ national parliaments. Members are elected for fixed terms, typically five years, by the respective national legislatures and are allocated among member states according to agreed rules. The Assembly elects its own leadership, including a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, from among its members. EALA is headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, and holds plenary sessions there, with its proceedings conducted in English and Kiswahili.

The primary functions of EALA include considering and passing regional laws on matters within the EAC’s competence, debating regional policies, and approving the EAC’s budget and development plans. It also exercises oversight over EAC institutions and can undertake investigations or inquiries as mandated. In addition to lawmaking and oversight, EALA provides a forum for discussion of regional issues and engagement with civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

EALA plays a key role in the broader project of regional integration by harmonizing laws, policies, and standards across member states, thereby facilitating trade, mobility, and collaborative development projects. While it holds significant powers for regional governance, sovereignty over matters outside the EAC mandate remains with the respective member states.