By John Ikani
The Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday officially became the seventh member of the East Africa Community (EAC) after depositing the instruments of ratification at the bloc’s headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula presented the documents to EAC secretary general Peter Mathuki, who described the development as significant for DR Congo and the community.
Member states approved DR Congo’s request to join the bloc in April and the country’s parliament ratified the decision in June.
DR Congo’s presidency tweeted about the latest development:
11.07.2022 l #RDC_EAC #DiplomatieRDC
La RDC est désormais officiellement le 7eme membre de la Communauté des états d'Afrique de l'Est. @jumuiya @RDC_Minafet https://t.co/peVmQuAJ2y— Présidence RDC 🇨🇩 (@Presidence_RDC) July 11, 2022
DR Congo joins Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania and becomes the second Francophone country in the organisation.
The EAC aims to achieve prosperity, competitiveness, security, stability and political unification in East Africa
It is already engaged in efforts to end violence in eastern DR Congo, with a regional force expected to be deployed there.
