The Federal Republic of Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC) on Friday after signing the Treaty of Accession at State House, Entebbe, Uganda.
Somalia’s President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud and the Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, signed the treaty.
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni witnessed the ceremony, along with the EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mutuku Mathuki, and other dignitaries.
President Mohamud expressed his pride and commitment to regional integration.
He said, “Today is a moment of immense pride as I signed the Treaty of Accession of the Federal Republic of Somalia into the EAC. We are united in our pursuit of shared objectives and committed to strengthening economic, social, and political ties for the accelerated development of our region.”
President Museveni welcomed and congratulated Somalia on joining the EAC. He also thanked President Kiir and the EAC Secretariat for choosing Uganda to host the historic event.
He posted on X, “I welcome Somalia and congratulate them. I thank the Chair of EAC President of South Sudan, Salva Kirr, and the EACC Secretariat for choosing Uganda to host this historic event.”
Somalia is the latest country to join the EAC, after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The other partner states are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Somalia will have six months to ratify the EAC Treaty and deposit the instruments of ratification with the EAC Secretary General.
Economic Potential
Somalia’s entry into the EAC adds over 3,000 kilometres of coastline—the longest in Africa—to the bloc, which could boost trade with the Middle East and beyond.
President Mohamud, who appointed a special envoy to expedite the admission process after winning his second term in 2022, said that Somalia’s inclusion in the EAC would benefit the other member states as well.
However, some critics have raised security concerns over Somalia’s entry into the EAC, citing the country’s long history of conflict.
Experts have countered that Somalia has made significant progress in combating Al-Shabaab and that security challenges are not new to the EAC, as some of its members, such as the DRC and South Sudan, have also faced armed conflicts and civil wars.
