South Sudan, Somalia locked out of EAC - Daily Monitor

A team of technical experts appointed by the bloc early this year to review its economic and political pillars has advised the Council of Ministers to withhold South Sudan’s admission, pending key reforms.

South Sudan and Somalia have been locked out of the East African Community (EAC) after the economic bloc’s officials advised against admission.

The decision comes as a blow to the businesspeople who will continue to face restrictions in moving goods and investment capital, especially into Juba which had made an application for admission.

A team of technical experts appointed by the bloc early this year to review its economic and political pillars has advised the Council of Ministers to withhold South Sudan’s admission, pending key reforms.

Mr Musa Sirma, the outgoing chairman of EAC Council of Ministers, said the technical team based its decision on the country’s slow progress in setting up proper market and governance institutions.

“The technical team reviewed institutions and interviewed their officials to form the opinion that it (South Sudan) needed more time,” Mr Sirma said in Nairobi on Monday.
“This remains the prerogative of heads of state, but it is most unlikely a decision would be made to admit South Sudan this year.”

The Council of Ministers began its one-week meeting Monday to prepare for the heads of state summit, which will take place in Nairobi.

The membership applications by South Sudan and Somalia are among the items that await the summit meeting where President Mwai Kibaki will also pass on the leadership mantle to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.

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