EAC NOT YET DECIDED ON ADMISSION OF SOMALIA - SG

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

The East African Community (EAC) has not yet decided on the admission of Somalia into the six nation bloc.

Secretary general Peter Mathuki said in Arusha on Wednesday that no decision tias been reached even on fast tracking the admission process for the troubled country.

"Ädmission is the prerogative of the Heads of State following a verification mission", he said when he addressed the media,  EAC staff and other stakeholders in a zoom conference.

He hinted, however, that Somalia, which applied to join the EAC waback in 2012 may have failed to meet the eligibility to join the Community.

"The conversation is still there. Maybe we have not reached the most convenient time", he pointed out when responding to questions from the journalists from around the region.

The state of Somalia's application to join the Community has featured in most of the Heads of State summits ever since withoutss to jointe Despite applying to join the Community.

Although the EAC has not been clear cut on the matter, regional analysts have repeatedly pointed out to instability in the country which is also the home of   Al Shabaab terror group.

In August 2013 only months after receiving the official request to join the EAC, ther Arusha-based secretariat expressed fears of insecurity for members of the verification team that was to be deployed.

The issue was apparently put under the carpet after Al Shabaab intensified deadly attacks in some countries in East Africa, notably in Kenya which shares a long border with Somalia.

Somalia's bid to join the EAC is the longest to stay undecided compared to Burundi and Rwanda.

The two countries were admitted in July 2007,only a year after applying while  South Sudan was admitted in 2016  four years after its formal application was received.

Dr..Marhuki said the East Africans should brace for the admission of  the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into the regional bloc now comprising  Tanzania,Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.

He said the admission of landlocked DRC would boost the economy of the region. Currently, the giant country in the heart of Africa gets only eleven percent of its imports from the EAC..

He played down conflicts among the partner states in the EAC,saying they  were being sorted out and that the current leaders were determined for an amicable solution to the challenges.

EAC director general of  Customs and Trade Kenneth Bagamuhunda said there should be no concern on friction between the EAC partner states and does not see any impact on the integration efforts.'