DR Congo, East African Community begin negotiations over entry into regional bloc

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one step closer to being admitted into the East African Community.

The process, which is expected to conclude on January 24, is being facilitated by the bloc itself, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki said he expected “seamless negotiations” with DR Congo that will create more trade and investment opportunities for the benefit of the East African population.

“Once this phase is successfully concluded, it shall pave the way for the accession phase which literally concludes the admission process and upon pronouncement of Summit on the matter, DRC will be admitted as the seventh member of the EAC,” Mathuki noted.

“DRC’s intention to join the Community is not by default. DRC shares borders with five EAC Partner States, namely Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.”

Congolese deputy premier and foreign minister Christopher Apala Pen’Apala, who was present at the launch, said DR Congo was looking forward to increasing trade and investment and strengthening relations with the bloc.

Pen’Apala added that there would be no conflict for DR Congo in joining the bloc even if it already belonged to two other regional economic communities, namely the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Chairperson EAC Council of Ministers Adan Mohamed said DR Congo’s admission would be a boost for Africa as it aims to realize its potential in terms of its share of global trade.

Aside from trade and political and security cooperation, other benefits DR Congo would enjoy upon admission to the bloc are the free movement of people and goods, especially to the country’s eastern region, which relies on the Dar es Salaam and Mombasa ports for imports and exports.

It will also be able to nominate nine members to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and judges to the East African Court of Justice, the bloc’s judicial organ.