The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Arusha, Tanzania | Xinhua | The East African Community (EAC) heads of state summit on Tuesday admitted the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into the regional bloc, making it the seventh member of the bloc.
A communique issued by the EAC at its headquarters in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha said the DRC was admitted during the 19th extra-ordinary summit of the EAC heads of state that was held virtually.
✨ HISTORY IS MADE!
EAC Heads of State OFFICIALLY admit the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into the East African Community.
H.E Uhuru Kenyatta,Chair of the Summit of EAC Heads of States announces during the 19th Extra-Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State#WelcomeDRC pic.twitter.com/FA37Zds9GM
— East African Community (@jumuiya) March 29, 2022
The communique said the DRC was admitted after the EAC heads of state had received and considered the report of the 46th extra-ordinary meeting of the EAC council of ministers that recommended on the admission of the DRC into the regional bloc.
According to the communique, the summit directed the chairperson of the EAC, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, to sign the treaty of accession of the DRC into the EAC by April 14, 2022.
Thereafter the DRC shall be required to deposit the instruments of ratification with the EAC secretary general before Sept. 29, 2022, it said.
It added that the summit directed the EAC council of ministers to develop a roadmap for the integration of the DRC into the EAC and report progress to the next EAC heads of state summit.
“The admission of the DRC into the EAC is historic not only for our countries but our continent at large,” said President Kenyatta.
DRC becomes the seventh member of the EAC, joining Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
*****
Xinhua
