This archive report was first published on 23 December 2021.
On December 22, 2021, the 18th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State and government directed further negotiation to harmonise rules for the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) admission into the bloc.
The decision was made after a virtual summit chaired by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, where the Heads of State authorised ministers to conduct another round of talks with DRC on how it can be admitted into the bloc.
Although the EAC Council of Ministers had completed verification and recommended admission on November 22, 2021, the Heads of State decided to delay the process to ensure that the DRC aligns with the EAC protocol.
The DRC's entry into the EAC will require the country to pass some local laws on how to nominate legislators to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), judges to the East African Court of Justice, and civil servants to the secretariat, based on merit.
The country will also have to give timelines on accession to the Customs Union and Common Market protocols, which includes the One Network Area that allows mobile phone users to receive calls for free even when roaming in the region.
Other leaders present at the summit included Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Burundian Vice President Prosper Bazombanza, representing President Évariste Ndayishimiye, and Mr Deng Alor Kuol, the South Sudanese Minister for East African Community affairs, representing President Salva Kiir.
