Somalia moves one step closer to joining EAC. What’s next?

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Government of Somalia is on the verge of joining the East Africa Community [EAC] regional bloc, an organization that is responsible for economic partnership in the area, in what could significantly connect the country with other regions for economic prosperity.

Mohamud Sheikh Farah, the minister for Planning, Investment, and Economic Development, says the country has made progress in her bid to join EAC, under the leadership of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre..

The addition to EAC, he said, will help the country utilize the coastline, which happens to be the longest in Africa. Somalia's coastline connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, covering a total of 3,333 kilometers.

“This move will foster regional integration and provide numerous trade opportunities, benefitting the entire region,” he said.

The regional bloc has been working on efforts to expand its membership in order to raise volumes of trade within itself as well as with other blocs. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been pushing for inclusion since winning his second term in June 2022.

“We intend to create wealth and prosperity for our people. A big and expanded market that the admission of Somalia will usher in will be a major boost for the private sector, itself a great milestone in the integration process,” Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Rebecca Miano said.

“The Community is already contributing to peace and security in Somalia with Partner States providing troops as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia. The people of the rest of East Africa are eager to welcome their brothers and sisters from Somalia into the Community,” she added.

Some East Africa Community countries include Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as pioneer members. Others which has since joined include South Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, with South Sudan also joining the countries in the organization.

GAROWE ONLINE