This archive report was first published on 14 July 2021.
South Sudan's journey to East African Community integration has been marked by significant challenges, including a lack of human capital and technical capacity. This has hindered the country's ability to fully participate in regional trade and reap the benefits of integration.
Despite being admitted to the EAC in 2016, South Sudan has struggled to harmonize its internal laws to conform to the community's integration requirements. The country has also failed to repeal internal laws that impede the free movement of people and goods within the region.
President Salva Kiir has acknowledged the need to ease the movement of people and goods within the region, stating, "It is in our best interest to ease the movement of people and goods within the region in order to facilitate trade and investment as well as contribute to our end goal of East African regional integration."
However, the country's efforts to integrate have been slow due to a lack of trained staff in Customs, immigration, and revenue/tax collection at border points. In May 2021, President Kiir urged East African leaders to waive visa fees for South Sudanese citizens, with Kenya and Uganda being the only EAC partner states that still charge visa fees.
South Sudan nationals are yet to be employed in senior ranks at the EAC organs, with a section of EALA members seeing the recent call for staff recruitment as an opportunity for the country to fully integrate into the EAC.
According to the EALA chairperson of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges, Hon Kennedy Mukulia Ayason, South Sudan had remitted $5 million to the Community by May 2021 and has put in place mechanisms to ensure the remaining balance of $3 million for the previous financial year is fully paid.
