Somalia is now fully a member of the East African Community following its submission of ratification of the treaty of accession with the bloc’s Secretary-General on Monday in Arusha, Tanzania. The country had been accepted into the bloc in 2023. Somalia on Friday, November 24th, became the bloc’s eighth member.
As reported by the East African, Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry presented the instrument of ratification to Peter Mathuki, the bloc’s Secretary-General, during an event held at the EAC’s headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
“Today’s occasion of Somalia depositing the instruments of the ratification with the Secretary-General, will enable Somalia to kick off the process of joining EAC’s areas of cooperation,” said the EAC Secretariat-General.
According to Dr. Mathuki trade, investment, industrial growth, and unrestricted movement of people, labor, and services are among the areas of cooperation alluded to.
“Somalia now has the green light to contribute to the development of a roadmap for her integration into the EAC,” the EAC Secretariat-General added.
The plan will specify how its newest member; Somalia intends to carry out the Common Market, Monetary Union, Political Federation, and Customs Union as the four pillars of the East African Community.
“We will in the course of the upcoming weeks be bringing Somalia up to speed on the state of the EAC integration process, in all the pillars of regional integration,” Dr. Mathuki stated.
Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry also added; “We recognize the importance of adding value to the Community, enhancing collaboration with our neighbors and promoting regional economic and social development through increased trade, bilateral agreements and joint programs and projects.”
After the regional event, the 23rd ordinary summit of the heads of state held in Arusha, Tanzania, Somalia was eventually allowed into the bloc in November 2023 after a year of examination by the other heads of state.
Somalia joined Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan, as part of the exclusive East African Bloc.
Somalia’s entry into the bloc comes just a year after the DRC’s admission, showing the bloc’s commitment to strengthening regional ties.
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