Presidents of the East African Community gathered today in Arusha, Tanzania, for the 23rd ordinary summit with Somalia’s interest to join the bloc as the first agenda of the summit.
Among the presidents is Salva Kiir of South Sudan who is expected to take over the chairmanship of the East African Community from his Burundian counterpart, President Evariste Ndayhimiye whose tenure has come to an end.
The summit is expected to deliberate on the Report on the Negotiations for the Admission of the Federal Republic of Somalia into EAC in its first agenda which will be followed by the report of the progress of the EAC- Led Nairobi Process on restoration of peace in Eastern DRC.
During the 21st Extra-Ordinary Summit in Bujumbura, Burundi on February 4, the meeting resolved that a report on Somalia admission be tabled during the 23rd ordinary happening today for final decision.
In July 2022, during the 22nd Ordinary East Africa Community Heads of State Summit, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia made repeated a bid to join EAC.
“I am here to make a formal bid for Somalia to join the East African Community,” said Mohamud.
Earlier this year, a team of seven nations comprising South Sudan, Kenya, DRC, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda travelled to Somalia to assess the country and the team is expected to give reports today.
According to the 1999 treaty for the establishment of the East African Community, a country can only become a member of the bloc after meeting certain conditions set out in the treaty.
These conditions include respect for universal principles of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and other civil liberties.
Member countries are yet to vote for admission of Somalia into the bloc.
