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Egos, unfair trade shake EAC as DR Congo eyes entry Frederic Musisi Once upon a time, the East African Community (EAC), a six-member regional bloc of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan – admitted in 2016 – was both vibrant and buoyant. Not just to keen observers, but anyone could tell it had a sense of purpose. What exactly happened is a long story. But it began with Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda forming a loose association, which has since fizzled out, within the bloc. Along came a series of happenings, including trade wars and political disagreements, partly exacerbated by egos between Uganda and Rwanda, Rwanda and Burundi, and now Kenya and Somalia, which is also seeking entry into the bloc. Then the endless trade wars. It became monotonous to follow and the bloc became a floating object. Some members started defaulting on their financial commitments and the secretariat soon ran of cash to run operations. The 2019/2020 financial year
Daily Monitor
Sunday March 07 2021
L-R: Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s John Pombe Magufuri and their Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in Arusha, Tanzania, in March 2016. PHOTO/ FILE
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Once upon a time, the East African Community (EAC), a six-member regional bloc of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan – admitted in 2016 – was both vibrant and buoyant. Not just to keen observers, but anyone could tell it had a sense of purpose.
What exactly happened is a long story. But it began with Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda forming a loose association, which has since fizzled out, within the bloc.