Somalia joins East African States in milestone regional integration

Somalia has officially become the newest member of the Community of East African States (EAC), a regional organization fostering a unified market promoting the free flow of goods and people. The announcement was made on Friday from the EAC’s headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The EAC, originally established in 2000, now boasts a membership of eight countries, with Somalia joining the ranks alongside Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which became the latest member in 2022.

Burundian Head of State Évariste Ndayishimiye, the outgoing President of the EAC, declared, “The member countries have decided to admit the Federal Republic of Somalia under the accession treaty.” The historic moment was marked by the presence of Somali President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud, who expressed profound gratitude, stating, “This moment is not just the culmination of an aspiration but a glimmer of hope for a future full of possibilities and opportunities.”

Founded with the goal of facilitating cross-border trade by eliminating customs duties among member states, the EAC established a common market in 2010. Excluding Somalia, the EAC member countries collectively cover an expansive 4.8 million square kilometers with a combined gross domestic product of $305 billion, as per the organization’s website.

Somalia, with its population of approximately 17 million and the longest coastline on the African continent exceeding 3,000 km, brings a significant addition to the EAC, expanding its potential market to over 300 million people.

However, the entry of Somalia into the bloc is not without challenges. The Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies think-tank highlights concerns about Somalia’s governance, human rights, and rule of law record, posing potential obstacles to seamless integration into the bloc.

While Somalia’s entry marks a decisive step in the EAC’s expansion into East Africa, observers remain vigilant about addressing the governance issues to ensure a successful and harmonious integration.