Dem. Rep. of Congo approved to join East African Community bloc

Nation applied to become member in 2019

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - The Council of Ministers of the East African Community (EAC) approved Saturday the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the regional bloc.

The announcement was made in a statement on the EAC’s website.

The approval comes after negotiations between the EAC and the Democratic Republic of Congo from Jan. 15 to 24 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The EAC negotiating team was led by Dalice Yalla, secretary for integration at the EAC and Regional Development Ministry, and Serge Tshibangu, Special Envoy of Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, according to the statement.

The council instructed the EAC secretariat to develop a draft roadmap for the integration of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the community.

The admissions process was initiated by an application in 2019.

Kaynak: