The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization composed of six member states in East Africa. It was originally established in 1967 but collapsed in 1977 due to political differences among the member countries. It was revived in 2000 with the signing of a treaty to promote regional integration, cooperation, and development.
The current member states of the EAC are:
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- Burundi
- South Sudan (joined in 2016)
The EAC’s key objectives are:
- Economic Integration: The EAC aims to create a common market and customs union, facilitating free trade and movement of goods, services, capital, and people across member states.
- Political Federation: One of the long-term goals of the EAC is to form a political federation, fostering unity and shared governance among the member countries.
- Infrastructure Development: The EAC focuses on building regional infrastructure such as roads, railways, and energy projects to enhance economic cooperation.
- Peace and Security: The community works on promoting peace, stability, and good governance within the region.
- Social and Cultural Cooperation: The EAC encourages collaboration in the social and cultural spheres to strengthen the bonds between the member states.
Some of the significant achievements of the EAC include the establishment of a Customs Union (2005), a Common Market (2010), and progress towards a Monetary Union (under negotiation). They also work on regional initiatives like the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) and free trade agreements with other countries and regions.
The EAC provides a platform for the East African countries to speak with one voice on regional and international matters, aiming to enhance collective bargaining power and sustainable development for all its members.