East African Community to expand to 8 member states

The Africa Report
Thursday, August 23, 2012

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The membership of the East African Community is to soon expand from five to eight countries, with Africa's newest state, South Sudan being one of the countries expected to join the enlarged regional bloc.   

East African Legislative Assembly Commissioner, Nusura Tiperu said the EAC's executive committee was is in the process of vetting applications of three other countries, which have shown interest in becoming members.  

She said the countries that had expressed interest in joining the EAC were South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and these will join current member states Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

"The East African Community's executive committee is in the process of vetting the applications of the three countries which want to join the east African community," Tiperu said from Kampala.

Tiperu, however, said South Sudan could be the first to join, as it submitted its application before the other two countries.  

"The vetting process for South Sudan is in an advanced stage compared to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its membership might be considered before the end of the year," Tiperu said.

  She said the grouping has opened up for new members in order to foster competition, access to wider markets through trade, larger and diversified investments and production, socioeconomic and political stability as well as bargaining power for the member countries.

  The EAC established in late 1960's by three countries, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. But the community was disbanded in the 1970s when Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin came to power.   It was re-established in the mid-1990s by the three original member states, with Rwanda and Burundi joining later.

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