Unity Under Fire: Tanzania Champions Resilience in East African Community Challenges

By Adonis Byemelwa

Tanzania recently reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the East African Community (EAC) during a high-profile retreat in Zanzibar, emphasizing unity and resilience within the regional bloc.

The event, attended by ministers from all member states, underscored Tanzania's role as a key player in fostering integration and cooperation among East African nations.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba, highlighted Tanzania's historical commitment as a founding member of the EAC, emphasizing the importance of collective strength and unity in achieving the community's goals.

"Unity is our cornerstone of strength. We have learned from the consequences of disunity in the past, and we must avoid such pitfalls," Minister Makamba stated, reflecting on the lessons from previous challenges within the EAC.

The retreat, hosted by Tanzania and supported by the EAC Secretariat, aimed to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the regional grouping amidst various challenges.

These challenges include economic disparities among member states, which complicate efforts to harmonize policies and coordinate economic activities.

Countries like Kenya, with its relatively advanced economy, contrast sharply with less developed nations such as Burundi and South Sudan, highlighting the need for inclusive development strategies within the EAC.

Political differences among member states also pose significant hurdles to regional integration. Instances of geopolitical tensions, such as altercations involving Burundi against Rwanda and disputes involving the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Kenya, underscore the complex dynamics at play within the EAC. These conflicts can strain diplomatic relations and hinder collaborative efforts towards shared objectives.

Recent incidents, such as the poultry trade dispute between Tanzania and Kenya, where Kenya burned chickens from Tanzania citing health concerns, have highlighted the fragility of bilateral relations within the EAC.

 Such incidents underscore the challenges of regulatory harmonization and the need for transparent and mutually beneficial trade practices among member states.

Despite these challenges, the EAC has expanded its membership to include Somalia and South Sudan, aiming to enhance regional stability and economic cooperation.

However, the inclusion of new members has also brought complex security dynamics, particularly concerning Somalia's ongoing security challenges and South Sudan's post-independence conflicts.

Additionally, regional economic communities like the EAC often face institutional capacity constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and donor dependence, which can impede their ability to implement integration agendas effectively. Profound insights from regional integration scholars like the late Prof. Baregu, Prof. Samwel Wangwe, and the late Prof. Gaudence Mpangala from the University of Dar es Salaam have repeatedly highlighted these challenges in their research and publications.

"Regional integration requires robust institutions capable of coordinating policies, resolving disputes, and mobilizing resources," Prof. Baregu emphasized in one of his seminal works on East African integration.

 He stressed the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks to overcome political and economic barriers hindering regional cooperation.

Prof. Wangwe echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for inclusive economic growth strategies that address disparities among member states.

 "Inclusive development is crucial for fostering regional stability and enhancing the resilience of regional economic communities like the EAC," he remarked in his analysis of regional integration challenges.

The late Prof. Gaudence Mpangala underscored the impact of external factors such as donor dependence on regional integration efforts.

"Donor funding plays a significant role in financing integration projects, but it also poses challenges of dependency and conditionality," he noted, cautioning against over-reliance on external aid for sustainable development within the EAC.

While the East African Community remains committed to enhancing regional integration and cooperation, it faces multifaceted challenges ranging from economic disparities and political tensions to institutional constraints and donor reliance.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained political will, enhanced institutional capacity, and inclusive development strategies that prioritize equitable growth and mutual benefit among member states. As Tanzania and its EAC counterparts navigate these complexities, the commitment to unity and resilience articulated at the Zanzibar retreat serves as a rallying call for collective action towards a more integrated and prosperous East Africa.