On Friday, Somalia officially became a member of the East African States Community (EAC), a regional organization fostering a unified market with free movement of goods and people.
The announcement, made from the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, revealed that the organization now includes eight countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the recent addition of Somalia in accordance with the accession treaty.
Burundian Head of State Évariste Ndayishimiye, the outgoing President of the EAC, declared the admission of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the event was attended by Somali President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud.
President Mohamoud expressed his profound gratitude, describing the moment as not only the realization of a long-standing aspiration but also a glimpse of hope for a future filled with possibilities and opportunities.
Established in 2000, the EAC aims to facilitate cross-border trade by eliminating customs duties among its member states, achieving a common market in 2010.
