In a significant development, Somalia officially joined the East African Community (EAC) as its eighth member state, following approval at a leaders' summit in Arusha, Tanzania, three weeks prior.
The formal admission took place during a ceremony in Entebbe, Uganda, where President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the Treaty of Accession in the presence of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, the current chair of the EAC, and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.
While the EAC serves as both a trade bloc and a customs union, concerns have arisen about the dominant economies, Kenya and Tanzania, allegedly attempting to hinder free trade.
Criticism has been directed at the bloc for rapid expansion at the expense of achieving meaningful integration. The admission of Somalia and, previously, the Democratic Republic of Congo, facing ongoing conflict, drew scrutiny.
Political conflicts between member states further strain the bloc's progress, with accusations such as Kinshasa alleging Kigali's involvement in war through the use of proxy rebels like the M23.
This backdrop underscores the challenges faced by the East African Community in fostering regional cooperation.