Following decades of warfare and recovery efforts, Somalia became the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC), a significant step towards free trade and economic integration throughout the region.
At the EAC summit in Tanzania, Somalia was admitted. This is expected to bring the total population of the EAC market—which currently includes Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda—to over 300 million.
In attendance at the summit, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised this action as a ray of hope for Somalia, promising a future rich in possibilities. After years of unrest, Somalia’s participation represents a turning point in the country’s history and aims to promote stability and economic prosperity.
The EAC was established in 2000 and has its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Its mission is to promote economic growth and commerce among its member states by doing away with customs taxes. In 2010, the bloc created a common market to promote economic cooperation.
The EAC now has a combined GDP of $305 billion and a land area of 4.8 million square kilometres thanks to Somalia’s entrance. This will enable a significant trade volume of $78.75 billion in 2022.
However, continued conflicts with the al-Shabab group, which is associated with al-Qaeda, may make Somalia’s inclusion problematic from a security standpoint. Challenges have arisen in the nation’s attempts to put an end to the uprising, casting doubt on Somalia’s capacity to deal with the 16-year conflict.
The East African Community’s (EAC) expansion has taken a major step forward with Somalia’s admission, which has been pursued since 2012. But questions remain about Somalia’s human rights record, legal system, and government, which may hinder its easy assimilation into the regional alliance.
Somalia has demonstrated its commitment to regional cooperation, striving for common prosperity and peace throughout the region, including its admission in the EAC, despite obstacles and historical disagreements with bordering nations.
