Negotiations on Somalia admission into EAC start

Gracing the talks, the Kenya Cabinet Secretary in charge of the EAC and Regional Development, Rebecca Miano, said nothing can stop the country from joining the Community.

“Negotiations between the EAC and Somalia were being held in accordance with a directive by the regional leaders to commence negotiations,” she said.

The talks are held between officials of the EAC secretariat and a high-powered government delegation from Mogadishu. The nine-day negotiations have brought together experts from the seven EAC partner states; Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DR Congo.

Also present were legal and governance experts from the two key organs of the EAC; the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

Ms Miano said the negotiations were being held not only in accordance with the regional leaders’ directive but also within the legal framework of the Community.

The negotiations will focus on the three clusters: political, legal, and institutional; infrastructure, productive, and social sectors; and economic and trade affairs.

She said that the EAC was keen on an expanded and vibrant bloc, with high volumes of trade within itself as well as with other blocs.

“This, primarily, is because we intend to create wealth and prosperity for our people.

“The big and expanded market that the admission of Somalia will usher in will be a major boost for the private sector, itself a great milestone in the integration process,” said the CS.

Ms Miano added that the Community was already contributing to peace and security in Somalia, with some partner states, namely Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi, providing troops as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia.

The cabinet secretary further said as she graced the talks; “The people of the rest of East Africa are eager to welcome their brothers and sisters from Somalia into the Community.”

In his remarks, Somalia’s Minister for Planning, Mohamud Abdirahman Sheikh Farah, said the entry of Somalia into the EAC would be an excellent opportunity to take the integration process in East Africa to a new level.

He said his country was eager to join "our brothers and sisters" in Africa’s fastest integrating bloc, that is the EAC which was revived in the 1990s.

Mr. Farah said that Somalia being part of the bloc would help to address the security challenges in the Horn of Africa.

He added that the country’s entry into EAC would come with many benefits including a bigger market for goods produced in the region, improved infrastructure and investment opportunities.

Mr. Farah said that Somalia has many things to offer the bloc including a huge youthful population, vast natural resources and agricultural potential.

The EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki said that joining the community would enable Somalia to benefit from the EAC's regional infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, and energy networks.

“These projects aim to improve connectivity, enhance transportation links, and boost regional trade, ultimately supporting Somalia's economic development and integration,”, he said.

“Somalia has the longest national coastline of over 3000km in Africa, linking Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, which the region can tap into to increase intra-regional trade and improve the lives of East Africans,” he added.

The EAC boss said that the coastline would bring immense benefits for the EAC through the exploitation of Somalia’s blue economy resources such as fish.

Dr. Mathuki said that during the negotiations this week, the EAC Team would highlight to the Somali delegation, the benefits, obligations and commitments of Partner States under the Treaty which will be the basis for the negotiations in good faith by both Teams.

“The negotiations will also provide clarifications to both Teams on matters that were identified during the verifications exercise.

"I am very optimistic that at the end of this exercise, we will have a clear report for presentation to the next Summit for consideration,” he added.

Dr. Mathuki said that the Heads of State would then make a decision on whether to admit Somalia into the Community.

“Somalia has the longest national coastline of over 3,000 kms in Africa, linking Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, which the region will tap into to increase intra-regional trade,” he added.

The EAC verification mission is being chaired by Mrs. Tiri Marie Rose from Burundi while Dr. Adbusalam Omer, Special Envoy of Somalia, is the Lead Negotiator for Somalia.