Jacaylbaro Posted April 8, 2011 The entry of South Sudan into the East African Community (EAC) is almost certain, the secretary general, Mr Juma Mwapachu, has said. Mr Mwapachu disclosed that the process to have Africa's soon-to-be youngest state as the sixth partner member of the EAC would not be delayed as the region had increasingly tilted towards East Africa. "It is not possible to delay the entry of South Sudan into the EAC," he said Wednesday when he received credentials from the Namibian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr Japhet Isaack, who will also be accredited to the EAC. Mr Mwapachu said South Sudan, which will officially secede from Khartoum come July, was already one of the leading trading partners with the regional bloc. Uganda has taken over Kenya as the leading trading partner with the former Khartoum region. Last year's exports from the two EAC member countries to South Sudan were worth $187m and $184m respectively. Kenya is also the leading investor in Juba, whose authorities have increasingly turned to sub-Saharan Africa, especially East Africa, for economic, cultural and political ties. Recent referendum "There is no question on whether South Sudan will become an EAC member state. The only issue is when it will assume its full membership of the regional bloc," he pointed out. South Sudan will become a sovereign state on July 9 following a recent referendum in which 98 per cent of its people voted for independence from Khartoum. Source: Africa Review Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
