Somalia is expected to become the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC) this week if leaders of countries in the economic bloc greenlight
Somalia is expected to become the eighth member of the East African Community (EAC) this week if leaders of countries in the economic bloc greenlight its entry at a summit on Nov. 23-24 in Tanzania. The move would add 3,000 kilometers of coastline to the EAC, in addition to boosting the bloc’s market size and GDP. Somalia would benefit from reduced trade barriers in accessing the EAC market, and inclusion in multi-national infrastructure projects. Somalia’s prospective membership has been hotly debated in the country amid concerns that continued internal conflict could hamper its participation.