This archive report was first published on 21 June 2021.
Published on June 21, 2021, a new scorecard on the East African Community's Common Market Protocols revealed that Tanzania attracted the highest number of citizens from other partner states to live and work within its borders between January 2019 and December 2020.
The country issued 19,629 residents permits compared to Kenya's 2,378, Uganda's eight, and Burundi's 459.
Kenya and Tanzania issued the highest number of work permits to other EAC citizens during the period, with Kenya issuing 2,378 permits mostly to Tanzanian and Ugandan nationals, while Tanzania issued 1,664 permits mostly to Kenyans and Ugandans.
The Common Market Protocols (CMP) scorecard was prepared by the 31st meeting of the Sectoral Council of ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning, which took place in Arusha from June 7-11, 2021.
East African Community Secretary-General Peter Mathuki praised the region's progress under the six freedoms of the CMP, stating, "The EAC has made tremendous progress under the six freedoms of the CMP. This is an indication that the Community is getting back on track."
He added that the region has increased intra-EAC trade among partner states in the past 10 years and plans to widen the community to include the Democratic Republic of Congo as the seventh member.
The CMP provides for six freedoms, including the free movement of goods, persons, capital, labor, and services, as well as the right of establishment and the right of residence.
According to the CMP's Free Movement of Persons regulations, citizens of a Partner State are entitled to enter into a territory of the host Partner State and stay up to six months.
Principal Secretary Kevit Desai, who chaired the Technical Task Force team, announced plans for a dedicated summit retreat on the CMP by February 2022 to deliberate on the status of implementation and achievements realized.
