Somalia’s Historic Accession to East African Community:
The Federal Republic of Somalia is set to take a significant step towards joining the East African Community (EAC) as it plans to sign a Treaty of Accession with the regional bloc. The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place at State House, Entebbe, Uganda, today.
The treaty will be signed by Somalia’s President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud and the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the President of the Republic of South Sudan. The ceremony will be attended by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as well as other dignitaries, including the EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mutuku Mathuki.
The decision to admit Somalia as a full member of the East African Community was made during the 23rd Ordinary Meeting of the Summit of EAC Heads of State held in Arusha, Tanzania, on 24th November, 2023. The summit considered the Report of the EAC Council of Ministers on the Negotiations with the Federal Republic of Somalia and resolved to integrate Somalia into the EAC.
H.E. Mayardit, the Chairperson of the Summit, was designated to coordinate with Somalia on the timing of the signing of the Treaty of Accession. The Heads of State directed that, within six months after the signing, Somalia must deposit the instrument of ratification with the Secretary General.
Furthermore, the EAC Council of Ministers was instructed to develop a roadmap for the integration of Somalia into the Community, and progress on this front is to be reported at the next meeting of the Summit. The East African Community already includes other Partner States, namely the Republic of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
