https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231128/what-does-somalias-acession-to-eac-mean-for-the-nation--the-bloc-1063825794.html
What Does Somalia's Acсession to EAC Mean for Nation & Bloc?
What Does Somalia's Acсession to EAC Mean for Nation & Bloc?
Sputnik Africa
On Friday, the conflict-torn Federal Republic of Somalia became the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC), a bloc that seeks to expand free trade... 28.11.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-11-28T12:51+0100
2023-11-28T12:51+0100
2023-11-28T12:52+0100
sub-saharan africa
somalia
horn of africa
east african community (eac)
east africa
kenya
trade
free trade agreement
free trade
security
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After Joining the EAC, Somalia could experience increased influence in the region in terms of trade, politics and diplomacy, Kenyan Professor Macharia Munene told Sputnik Africa. Professor Munene highlights potential political gains for Mogadishu within the EAC, including a reduced likelihood of recognizing the self-proclaimed breakaway republic of Somaliland in the northern part of the country.On Friday, Somalia officially became the eighth member of the EAC, a significant development for a country that has struggled with territorial control since the 1990s. Since the mid-2000s, Somalia has been grappling with the armed insurgency of the al-Shabaab* terrorist group, which has also affected neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.Professor Munene anticipates positive outcomes for the bloc, such as an expanded EAC market space and enhanced regional security.However, he also notes potential challenges, suggesting that Somalia's admission could make the EAC "less cohesive" due to conflicting diversity and differing interests among its members. Additionally, the expert predicts an increase in dependency as some EAC members may fail to meet their commitments.Established in 1999 by the leaders of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the EAC has seen subsequent expansions with Burundi and Rwanda joining in 2007, South Sudan in 2016, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022.Headquartered in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, where the bloc's last summit was held, the EAC works to promote trade by eliminating tariffs between member states and established a common market in 2010.Before Somalia's inclusion, EAC countries had a combined land area of 4.8 million square kilometers (1.8 million square miles) and a combined gross domestic product of $305 billion, according to the bloc's website with total EAC trade amounting to $78.75 billion in 2022, according to the bloc's website.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230926/breakaway-somaliland-rejects-talks-on-unification-with-somalia-1062366642.html
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somalia, horn of africa, east african community (eac), east africa, kenya, trade, free trade agreement, free trade, security, al-shabaab
somalia, horn of africa, east african community (eac), east africa, kenya, trade, free trade agreement, free trade, security, al-shabaab
What Does Somalia's Acсession to EAC Mean for Nation & Bloc?
12:51 28.11.2023 (Updated: 12:52 28.11.2023) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
On Friday, the conflict-torn Federal Republic of Somalia became the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC), a bloc that seeks to expand free trade across the region. The accession of the troubled Horn of Africa nation of 17 million people will expand the EAC market to more than 300 million people.
After Joining the EAC, Somalia could experience increased influence in the region in terms of trade, politics and diplomacy, Kenyan Professor Macharia Munene told Sputnik Africa.
Professor Munene highlights potential political gains for Mogadishu within the EAC, including a reduced likelihood of recognizing the self-proclaimed breakaway republic of Somaliland in the northern part of the country.
"[EAC membership] means Somali acceptability and lessening of the possibility of Somaliland getting recognition," Munene suggested.
On Friday, Somalia officially became the eighth member of the EAC, a significant development for a country that has struggled with territorial control since the 1990s. Since the mid-2000s, Somalia has been grappling with the
armed insurgency of the al-Shabaab* terrorist group, which has also affected neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia.
Professor Munene anticipates positive outcomes for the bloc, such as an expanded EAC market space and
enhanced regional security.
However, he also notes potential challenges, suggesting that
Somalia's admission could make the EAC "less cohesive" due to conflicting diversity and differing interests among its members. Additionally, the expert predicts an increase in dependency as some EAC members may fail to meet their commitments.
Established in 1999 by the leaders of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the EAC has seen subsequent expansions with Burundi and Rwanda joining in 2007, South Sudan in 2016, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022.
Headquartered in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, where the bloc's last summit was held, the
EAC works to promote trade by eliminating tariffs between member states and established a common market in 2010.
Before Somalia's inclusion, EAC countries had a combined land area of 4.8 million square kilometers (1.8 million square miles) and a combined gross domestic product of $305 billion, according to the bloc's website with total EAC trade amounting to $78.75 billion in 2022, according to the bloc's website.
