Kenya's President William Ruto invited the Comoros to join the East African Community (EAC) to enhance economic cooperation together during his meeting with Comorian President Azali Assoumani.
"I am taking this opportunity to also extend an invitation to the people of the Union of Comoros to join the East African Community so that we can pursue and achieve prosperity together," Ruto said.
According to the Kenya's leader, Nairobi supports closer cooperation with the Comoros in a wide range of fields.
"Kenya and Comoros stand as partners in progress, committed to deepening their collaboration for the benefit of its citizens," the president noted.
To enhance bilateral economic cooperation, Ruto pledged that Kenya would remove visa requirements for the people of Comoros and called on the entire continent of Africa to lift visa restrictions to "realize the free movement of people."
Another step announced by the president was to allow Comoros students to pursue higher studies and pay the same school fees as Kenyan students.
The meeting of the East African states' heads resulted in the signing of a General Cooperation Agreement, a sweeping pact with recommendations to back each other in addressing key global challenges such as trade, climate change, and the blue economy.
"Together, we can harness our shared potential to sustainably create economic opportunities and foster innovation that leaves no one behind," the leader concluded.
More African states may join the EAC. In May, President Ruto claimed that Somalia could accede to the bloc. In addition, the President described Ethiopia and Sudan as likely to join.
The goal of the group is to broaden and deepen economic, political, social, cultural, and legal integration up to the establishment of a future political federation of East African states.