MUSEVENI WANTS INCREASED INTRA-EAC TRADE

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

President Yoweri  Museveni of Uganda has called for increased free trade within the East African Community (EAC) bloc.

He made the call in Entebbe  as Somalia, recently admitted into the EAC, signed formal entry into the eight nation bloc.

"I am glad that the East African region is assembling and regrouping like it used to be before the colonial divide", he said. 

The Treaty was signed by Somalia's President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud and the current Chair of the EAC Summit of Heads of State President Salvar Kiir of South Sudan.

The ceremony was witnessed by President Museveni and the EAC secretary general Peter Mutuku Mathuki.

President Kiir said Somalia's joining of the bloc would boost regional and continental trade, the latter within the framework of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The 23rd ordinary summit of the EAC Heads of State which met in Arusha on November 24th admitted Somalia as the eighth member state.

President Mohamud, on his part, pledged to support the integration process "that would see our people benefit from free movement of goods, people and services".

Somali's admission into the EAC, he said, would strengthen people-to-people connection benefiting East Africa in various aspects.

The November 24th Summit further directed that within six months after the signing of the Treaty of Accession, Somalia shall be required to deposit the Instrument of Ratification with the EAC secretary general.

The Heads of State also directed the EAC Council of Ministers to develop a roadmap for the integration of Somalia into the bloc and report progress to the next meeting of the Summit. 

Somalia has been admitted into the EAC even as the country continues to grapple with security challenges fuelled by ceaseless terror attacks.

The eighth member of the bloc has been wracked by chaos for the past three decades, often spilling to its neighbours.

Its admission once again accelerated the expansion of the EAC which until 2007 had three founder members; Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

Burundi and Rwanda joined in 2007 followed by South Sudan in 2016 before the resource-rich DR Congo was admitted last year.

As expected, its admission is set to boost intra-regional trade given its rich fisheries resources on its  long 3,000 km coastline. 

The signing of the Treaty of Accession into the EAC has coincided with the lifting of arms embargo on the conflict-ridden Horn of Africa state.

The arms embargo was imposed  31 years ago when the country plunged into chaos, lawlessness and instability. 

However, early this month the UN Security Council (UNSC) announced its decision to lift the ban and enable the country to tackle emerging security challenges. 

The embargo was initially aimed to tame the warlords but later targeted the al Shabaab terror group.

President Mohamud said the move would support efforts by the new EAC partner state to foster stability and promote economic development.

Somalia has also secured a $ 4.5 billion debt write-off from global lenders, marking the culmination of a decade-long process of negotiations and reforms.