Vol. 11, Issue 12, Part C (2025)

Abstract
Accession of Somalia to the East African Community (EAC) in 2024 is a historic turning point for both the Horn of Africa and for the regionalism of East Africa. Accession of Somalia to the EAC will not only change the geographical position of the Horn of Africa in relation to other regions of Africa, but it will also demonstrate the increasingly important role that education diplomacy plays as a framework of soft power, peace building, and integration. This paper examines how Somalia uses education reforms, changes in language policies, and academic cooperation as tools to reinforce its membership in the EAC. Employing a qualitative document analysis methodology, the authors synthesize documentation from peer-reviewed articles, government policy documents, the frameworks of the EAC, and reports from international organizations to understand the role of education diplomacy in developing social-cultural-political integration in the EAC. The results indicate that education diplomacy acts as a form of strategic statecraft that enables Somalia to reconnect with neighboring countries, promote the recognition of qualifications, and facilitate cross-border collaboration through the adoption of Swahili, joint research programs, and the mobility of students. Recommendations for policy-making are based on strengthening institutional capacity, harmonizing curricula, and promoting bilingual education that is inclusive and that will support sustainable integration.