President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya wants the East African Community to incorporate countries from Central, Northern, and Southern Africa.
The current EAC chair, wants this expansion to be part of his legacy in the regional body.
According to Adan Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of EAC and Regional Development, he is suggesting some changes to the Treaty founding the Community in order to accommodate new members.
“Since Kenya took over the EAC chair in February 2021, there are a few things that President Kenyatta has given his strong views on. One of them is expansion of our market so that goods and services across East Africa access bigger and wider markets. It is in that context that the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo is being looked at,” said the CS, who chairs the EAC Council of Ministers.
During a virtual Heads of State summit conference on February 27, 2021, President Kenyatta took over as EAC chair from Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.
President Kenyatta also wants the Treaty’s provisions on membership, partner states’ financial obligations and contributions, decision-making processes, and the Common Market Protocol to be amended.
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However, the decisions will only be made possible if all EAC partner states agree at the end of this year’s Summit.
“One of the main things that President Kenyatta wants is to make sure that as EAC we are united. Any problem that affects member states is likely to undermine regional integration,” said Mohamed.
“For example, the sanctions on Burundi are some of the key issues that he has spoken about very strongly, as it will undermine the integration process.”
President Kenyatta, according to the minister, also wants the border post blockades between Uganda and Rwanda, Burundi and Rwanda, and Uganda and South Sudan to be resolved.
*This article was written by Gerald Gekara for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
