By John Ikani
Somalia is one step closer to becoming the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC).
Established in 2000, the EAC brings together six countries in East Africa: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The community aims to promote economic cooperation and integration among its member states.
Experts from the seven current member countries have arrived in Mogadishu to begin a verification exercise to assess the country’s readiness to join the regional trade bloc.
The team, made up of senior officials from Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will evaluate Somalia’s legal frameworks, policies, development strategies, infrastructure, peace and security, and more.
Somalia has been eager to join the EAC, saying it wants to contribute positively to the bloc through business, agriculture, and the blue economy.
The Horn of Africa country made an unsuccessful bid to join the EAC in 2012, but President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a fresh request in July 2022, during the EAC’s summit in Tanzania.
After the completion of the verification mission, a report on the findings will be presented to the EAC Council of ministers and then to the heads of states for consideration during a summit, expected to be held at the end of February 2023.
Will Somalia be finally able to join the EAC and become an active member of the community? Only time will tell.
