Regional Leaders Admit DR Congo into EAC Bloc, Mourn Oulanyah

The East African Community leaders have Tuesday, March 29, 2022, held the 19th extra-ordinary summit of the EAC Heads of State via video conference.

In attendance was H.E Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo which the summit decided to admit into the EAC bloc.

The heads of state met in a warm and cordial atmosphere, said a joint communique.

The summit recalled that at its 18th extra-ordinary meeting held on 22nd December 2021, it had directed the council to expeditiously commence and conclude negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo for admission to the east African community and report to the next summit.

The summit condoled with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the people of the Republic of Uganda upon the demise of the late Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, former Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda.

The summit noted the successful conclusion of the negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the East African Community for the admission of Congo into EAC and commended both parties for this achievement.

The summit received and considered the report of the 46th extra-ordinary meeting of the council of ministers and the recommendation on the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into the East African Community.

The summit decided to admit the Democratic Republic of Congo as a full member of the East African Community.

The summit designated President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Chairperson of the Summit to sign the treaty of accession of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the East African Community by 14th April 2022.

“Thereafter the Democratic Republic of Congo shall be required to deposit the instruments of ratification with the Secretary-General before 29th September 2022.”

The summit directed the council to develop a roadmap for the integration of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the EAC and report progress to the next summit.

The summit called for deeper economic, political, social and cultural integration with a view to improving the quality of life for the people of the community through increased competitiveness, value-added production, trade and investment for sustainable economic recovery.

Present were; President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania, Vice President Prosper Bazombanza representing President Évariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi and H.E. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Presidential Affairs representing President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan.