This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
July 14, 2020, marked a significant milestone for the East African Community (EAC) as the Common Market Protocol came into force a decade ago. The protocol aimed to create a single market for goods, services, and labor, fostering economic integration and cooperation among member states.
However, the past two years have been challenging for the EAC, with member states backpedaling from their commitments. Tariffs have increased, non-tariff barriers have emerged, and member states have resorted to unilateralism when the protocols of the common market obstruct political expediency.
Despite these setbacks, the EAC's Common Market Protocol has achieved significant progress in the past decade. The protocol has eliminated most trade barriers, created jobs, and improved the quality of life for the average citizen. The expansion of the EAC beyond the founding three members and the aspiration of countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Somalia to join the club attest to the protocol's success.
However, there is still a long way to go before the six freedoms – free movement of goods, persons, capital, labor, and services, and the right of establishment and residence – are fully entrenched. The 10-year anniversary of the Common Market Protocol should serve as a reminder to recommit to the idea of a regional economic community and work towards a fully functional common market.
