Presidents of the East African Community have finally admitted the Federal Republic of Somalia into the East African Community today in Arusha, Tanzania, during the 23rd ordinary summit.
Among the presidents is Salva Kiir of South Sudan who has taken over the chairmanship of the East African Community from his Burundian counterpart, President Evariste Ndayhimiye whose tenure has come to an end.
President Evariste Ndayhimiye announced the admission of Somalia into the regional body.
“With regard to the application by the federal republic of Somalia, we have decided to admit the federal republic of Somalia,” Ndayhimiye announced.
“Our inclusion in this community is a commitment for shared growth and a just prosperity in the region,” asserted Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia
Somalia applied to join the community in 2012 but members declined because of war and disorder in the Horn of Africa country that had weak institutions.
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.
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.
The bloc heads of the state finally
