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Roundup: South Sudan officially joins EAC, pledges to make the bloc vibrant

Xinhua, April 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan on Friday officially joined the East African Community (EAC), becoming the sixth member of the regional bloc after Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

By joining the bloc, the Horn of African country opened a new chapter of hope and opportunities in social and economic spheres.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his Tanzanian counterpart John Magufuli signed a Treaty of Accession into the regional bloc.

Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony in the east African nation's commercial capital Dar es Salaam, President Magufuli paid tribute to South Sudan, saying the event was historic as it was done in Tanzania, the current chair of the EAC.

"A new chapter of diplomatic relations has been opened," said the head of state, adding that South Sudan has been in close relations with EAC members in areas of culture, trade and economic ties.

He said the joining of South Sudan in the EAC has expanded the regional market of 160 million people.

President Magufuli said in order for the EAC to have sustainable development it should nurture peace and urged the new comer to continue with talks aimed at ending strife in the country.

"The main reasons behind integration is to promote trade, investments and infrastructure in order to bring about sustainable development and nurture peace among members of bloc," said the president.

President Kiir thanked the EAC leaders for accommodating him in the regional bloc.

He said his country will work hard to see to it that the EAC became a vibrant bloc, adding: "To start with we will form a ministry that will specifically deal with EAC issues."

"At last South Sudan has returned home. EAC is its right place and it is a bloc respected the world over," said President Kiir.

Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Augustine Mahiga, said the EAC will work closely with the international community to ensure that South Sudanese who fled from their country during political upheavals returned home.

South Sudan was admitted to the EAC during the 17th Ordinary Summit of the regional leaders held here on March 2.

The world's newest nation, which gained independence in July 2011 after seceding from Sudan, had applied to join the bloc four years back.

Presidents Magufuli, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Burundi Vice-President Joseph Butore endorsed Juba's application.

The Arusha summit which was attended by all regional leaders of the five partner states, except President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, designated the Tanzanian leader as the chairman of the community on behalf of other leaders.

EAC has lately attracted countries neighbouring the bloc. Sudan, which for many years administered Juba as an autonomous state, is reported to have applied to join the bloc while Comoro and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have shown willingness.

Juba's admission has, however, been delayed for over two years after the country plunged into bloodshed in December 2013. The fighting between the government and rebel forces saw some of the worst atrocities, claiming thousands of lives. Endit