The Federal Republic of Somalia has officially joined the East African Community after signing a Treaty of Accession with the regional bloc at State House, Entebbe, Uganda on Friday.
The Treaty of Accession was signed by Somalia’s President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud and the new Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the President of the Republic of South Sudan.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Also in attendance was the EAC Secretary General, Peter Mutuku Mathuki, among other dignitaries.
The Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State at their 23rd Ordinary Meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania on November 24, 2023, considered the Report of the EAC Council of Ministers on the Negotiations with the Federal Republic of Somalia into the EAC and resolved to admit Somalia as a full member of the Community.
The Summit further designated the Chairperson of the Summit, Mr Kiir, to agree with Somalia on when to sign the Treaty of Accession of Somalia into the Community.
The Summit further directed that within six months after the signing of the Treaty of Accession, Somalia would be required to deposit the instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General.
The Heads of State also directed the EAC Council of Ministers to develop a roadmap for the integration of Somalia into the Community and report progress to the next meeting of the Summit.
Other Partner States in Africa’s fastest-integrating bloc are the Republic of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
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