Somalia Officially Admitted to East African Community

By Samuel Ouma

Somalia is the latest country to join the East African Community (EAC).

The decision to admit Somalia to the bloc was arrived at during the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State in Arusha, Tanzania.

The inclusion of Somalia into the Community results from negotiations directed by the 22nd Extraordinary Summit.

It allows the region to further integrate, thereby expanding people's opportunities.

The move will improve connectivity, boost trade, and hasten Somalia's transformation plan.

Somalia has now become the 8^th member of the Community. Other members are Kenya, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.

Aside from the admission of Somalia, the Summit also discussed the progress of the EAC-led Nairobi Process on the Restoration of Peace and Stability in Eastern DRC.

The Summit also requested that Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo expedite the EAC Political Confederation public consultation by the middle of next year.

At the same time, President Salva Kiir was appointed Chairperson of the EAC Summit of Heads of State.

He succeeds his Burundi counterpart Évariste Ndayishimiye, whose term has expired.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been named rapporteur of the EAC.