EAC secretariat urged to expedite Somalia’s application to join regional trade bloc

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The East African Community -Secretariat has been urged to speed up Somalia’s application to join the regional trade bloc.

These statements were made during a meeting between President Hassan Sheik Mohamud and EAC Secretary-General Peter Mathuki who is on a visit to Mogadishu.

President Mohamud. “Mr. Secretary-General we are baking on you to send the verification team here in Mogadishu to start the process that will lead to the validation of the country joining the EAC. We belong to the EAC. There is no country among the EAC Partners states that is not linked by business with Somalia and existing historical linkages include language and culture.”

Once Somalia’s application is approved then the country will be t the 8th member of the EAC, joining the Democratic Republic of Congo which became the latest member state earlier this year.

President Mohamud also revealed that his government is working around the clock to tackle the Al-Shabaab security threat with the help of some of the EAC member states like Kenya.

Somalia’s strategic position is ideal for the regional bloc in terms of easing the movement of goods, services, and people across the EAC.

The country’s long Indian Ocean-Red Sea route that links Africa to the Arabian Peninsula is a vibrant economic zone, adding that the exploitation of Somalia’s blue economy resources such as fish and the expansive coastline would boost the regional economy.

On his part, Dr. Mathuki assured the Somali president that the EAC secretariat would do its part to make sure the admission process is expedited in accordance with the EAC procedure for admission of new members to the community.

The EAC Secretary-General assured president Mohamud that after his maiden visit, the EAC Secretariat would write to partner states to request nominations for members to constitute the EAC verification team.

Dr. Mathuki "The EAC wishes to assure you of our total commitment to leading the process of admission of Somalia into the community as directed by the Summit."

GAROWE ONLINE