The East African Community has held its 19th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State virtually, ratifying the admission of DRC into the bloc.
The community yesterday issued a statement on its website, revealing that the Heads of the East African Community States would deliberate on the report of the Council of Ministers concerning the admission of Congo for consideration.
“The Summit is expected to consider the report of the Council Of Ministers on the negotiations between the East African Community (EAC) and the Democratic Republic Of the Congo (DRC) on admission Of DRC into the EAC,” the community said in a Press release.
On Friday, the Council of Ministers held their 48th Extra-Ordinary Meeting, to discuss the agenda and the programme for the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the East African Community.
“The Summit is preceded by the 48th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers, which took place on Friday, 25th March 2022 to consider the provisional agenda and programme of the 19th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State on Admission of the DRC into the EAC,” the statement concluded.
DRC’s commitment
In January 2022, the government of DRC reaffirmed its commitment to speed up the process of the country’s admission into the EAC.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Christophe Pen’Apala, noted that the country could not wait to embark on increased trade and investment once its membership is approved.
The DPM Apala confided that his country would strengthen bilateral relations with the EAC Partner States, as well as cooperate with the community for maximum exploitation of natural and human resources in the region.
“The DRC was keen on cooperating with the EAC for maximum exploitation of both natural and human resources in the region (and) expressed hope that this would be the last round of negotiations before the DRC is admitted into the EAC,” Pen’Apala said.
“The DRC has a large population of consumers who constitute a large market for the EAC. The DRC is also in dire need of investors and offers incentives for entrepreneurs who would like to invest in the country.”
When admitted into the community, DRC will be the seventh and the youngest partner state of the East African Community.