East Africa Heads of State in Arusha for summit

The possible admission of South Sudan into the EAC bloc would bring the country's long wait to an end. PHOTO | FILE |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By GERALD ANDAE, gandae@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• The 17th ordinary summit will among other things consider the admission of South Sudan as a member of the regional bloc.

Leaders from the East African Community (EAC) states are meeting Wednesday in Arusha, Tanzania, for the 17th ordinary summit that will among other things consider the admission of South Sudan as a member of the regional bloc.

The admission of South Sudan into the EAC would bring Juba's long wait to an end since it applied to join the soon after it gained independence in July 2011.

A statement from State House gave an indication that South Sudan will be formally admitted as a member of the regional block during the summit.

“Formal admission of South Sudan into the EAC community would be a sweet end to a long wait for Juba and a potentially expanded market for traders in the region,” State House said in a statement.

On Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda said on his twitter handle that his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli had briefed him that Juba would be admitted as the sixth member of the EAC.

Earlier reports by The EastAfrican indicated that sources privy to the outcome of the final talks on the admission said South Sudan will stay as an observer until concerns over instability, bad governance, democracy and its human-rights record are addressed.

Market for goods

Its admission would come as a good opportunity for business people who will have easy access to the lucrative South Sudan market under the EAC common market protocol.

Juba provides a huge market for goods and services from Kenya and Uganda, with many investors from the two countries establishing business enterprises in the war-torn State.

Kenya exports products and services worth over Sh18.3 billion per year while Ugandan exports to South Sudan stand at over Sh20 billion annually.

President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in Arusha Wednesday morning to attend the summit that started early in the week with the council of ministers meeting.

The Summit, held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, brings together the EAC Heads of State of Kenya, host Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.