By John Ikani
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was on Tuesday admitted into the regional East African Community (EAC), a bloc with a single market allowing free trade and movement of citizens.
DR Congo was officially admitted into the regional bloc during the 19th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State.
Kenya’s President Kenyatta said the moment was significant: “This is historic… the region has more to gain when it is together than when we are separate.
“The community will grow significantly as there will be expanded market opportunities.”
DR Congo’s consumer market of close to 90 million people is expected to expand the regional market to cover close to 300 million people.
“For people who are looking for prosperity, this is a very important issue. We welcome the DRC into the EAC,” said President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. “We now need to work on peace in eastern Congo, because that region has been having problems for some time.”
“I congratulate our brothers and sisters from the DRC and welcome them into the EAC. I urge all the institutions of the EAC to accelerate the admission of processes in accordance with the Treaty and our rules of admission,” said President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
“It is our expectation that the DRC will ratify the admission on time to allow the Community to benefit from integration,” said Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“Coming together will benefit the Community to achieve its integration agenda,” said Burundi Vice-President Prosper Bagombanza.
South Sudan’s Minister in the Office of the President Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin represented President Salva Kiir.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi also addressed the meeting.
Although Congolese citizens will eventually be able to enjoy the privileges that come with membership of the community such as free movement of people, goods, services and capital, changes will not happen overnight.
DR Congo’s Parliament will still have to ratify the EAC laws and regulations, as well as deposit the instruments of acceptance with the secretariat before they come into effect.
The EAC is also expected to consider a proposal for the simultaneous translation of French and Swahili during the community’s meetings.
English and Swahili are currently the official languages of the bloc. DR Congo’s main languages are Swahili, French, Lingala, Kituba (Kikongo) and Tshiluba.
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