The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Federal Republic of Somalia moved a step closer to full integration into the East African Community (EAC), following this week’s signing of the Treaty of Accession at State House, Entebbe, Uganda.
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and EAC Heads of States Summit Chairperson and South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit signed Treaty of Accession to the EAC, witnessed by the host, President Yoweri Museveni and EAC Secretary General, Peter Mathuki.
Somalia is expected to within six months, undertake internal and constitutional processes for the ratification of the Treaty of Accession, which will include the ratification of the Treaty of Accession by the country’s Parliament.
After ratification of the Treaty, the Somalia is required to deposit the instruments of ratification with the EAC Secretary General, who will then be required to transmit certified true copies of the Treaty to all Partner States.
Subsequently, the Secretary General shall register the Treaty of Accession and its instruments with the African Union, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and such other organisations as the EAC Council of Ministers may determine.
President Mohamud expressed gratitude to the member countries of the EAC for admitting his country to the bloc, saying that the Community symbolised the realisation of their collective aspirations.
During the 23rd ordinary summit of the Heads of State held last month in Arusha, Tanzania, Somalia’s admission into the EAC was approved by the region’s leaders, making it the eighth member of the bloc.
As a partner state, Somali, like the others will enjoy five freedoms; movement of goods, services, capital, persons and labour.
Somalia adds another 8.4 billion dollars to the value of the EAC economy to stand at 344 billion dollars, and a population total of 321 million, the fifth largest after China, India, The European Union and USA.
Another factor which could prove vital if nurtured is the extension of EAC’s coastline by more than 3,000 kilometers to about 4,500km in total.
President Yoweri Museveni welcomed Somalia into the community, describing the move as a boost to the efforts of the regional bloc to ensure prosperity and strategic security of its people.
“The logic behind integrating the EAC. It is for the prosperity of the African people, strategic security, and the commonalities of the East African people. Therefore, I welcome Somalia and congratulate them.”
He said integration makes the security of the people of Africa stronger.
“How can we be secure from what’s happening in the world? Can Uganda alone be secure in the world? Even if Uganda becomes a developed country, can it be secure really against countries like America and China? Suppose China decides to become an imperialist power?” he reasoned.
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Integrate and intermarry sounds more like the perfect bond. But surely, too much division is sadly a main driver of easy external domination even in this day and age of assumed advancement.