This archive report was first published on 27 October 2021.
Published on October 27, 2021
DR Congo's bid to join the East African Community (EAC) has reached a critical juncture, with the regional Council of Ministers set to deliver the final verdict in November.
The EAC technical experts have reviewed a report from the verification mission tasked with assessing the country's readiness to join the six-member bloc.
Kenya's Principal Secretary in the State Department of EAC Affairs, Kevit Desai, told The EastAfrican that DR Congo had presented a 'strong' case for admission.
“From the next extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers to act on it before the end of November, it will be handed to the Summit of the Heads of State. We are looking at early 2022 for the Summit,” Mr Desai said.
The EAC's admission criteria include acceptance of the Community's principles, adherence to good governance, democracy, and the rule of law, as well as observance of human rights and social justice.
Trade between DR Congo and its potential EAC partners is dominated by China, South Africa, Zambia, Belgium, and India, with China taking 31 per cent ($2.07 billion) of the Congo's total imports ($6.66 billion) in 2019.
