Kiir Signs EAC Treaty Act

President Kiir (Presidential Press Unit)

President Salva Kiir has signed the Treaty Establishing the East African Community Act, 2026 into law, marking a significant milestone in South Sudan’s full accession to the East African Community.

The signing, announced by the government on Thursday, domesticates the EAC Treaty and aligns South Sudan’s legal framework with regional obligations.

“This law cements our place in the Community and shows our commitment to regional integration,” a government spokesperson said. “It gives our institutions the mandate to implement EAC protocols on trade, movement, and investment.”

South Sudan applied to join the EAC in 2011, shortly after independence. The application went through verification by EAC partner states, negotiations, and approval by the EAC Summit in March 2016. Juba deposited the instruments of ratification in September 2016, becoming the bloc’s sixth member at the time.

“Accession was a process,” the spokesperson added. “We underwent verification missions, harmonization reviews, and Summit approval before formal admission. Today’s Act completes the legal process on our side.”
The East African Community is a key regional bloc focused on widening and deepening economic, political, and social integration. It runs a customs union, common market, and is working toward a monetary union and political federation. For member states, the bloc means expanded markets, free movement of goods and people, and coordinated infrastructure projects.

With South Sudan’s full accession, the EAC now has eight partner states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Analysts say the Act will boost investor confidence and ease South Sudan’s participation in EAC trade frameworks, including the Common External Tariff and elimination of non-tariff barriers. The move is also expected to accelerate cross-border projects in energy, roads, and agriculture across the region.

Source: https://chimpreports.com/kiir-signs-eac-treaty-act/