A New Frontier and Learning from History as Somalia Formerly Joins the Jumuiya
By Muoki Musila
An 8th Partner State
On her first days at the helm of the East African Community (EAC) secretariat, the newly sworn-in secretary general, Ms. Nduva, opened the meeting that was set to develop the road map for the integration of Somalia into the Community. Somalia officially becomes the 8th partner state of the community on March 2024 after depositing her ratification instruments, completing over two decades of longing. Accepting Somali into the community represents a significant milestone and a complex challenge for the blog.
As the eighth member state, Somalia’s inclusion promises to expand the EAC’s geopolitical influence and economic potential. This comes amidst challenges with recently integrated members, DR Congo and South Sudan, ranging from remittance reluctances, cross-border conflicts, and political instability. Thus, the new SG cannot afford to overlook risks experienced in the past, particularly in the incorporation of newer states. As such, H.E. Nduva and the EAC secretariat must address several critical issues to ensure a successful and seamless integration in collaboration with partner states and relevant private sector organs.
Economic Stability and Harmonization
On her first assignment, the onus is on H.E Nduva to ensure that Somalia’s economy is harmonized with the existing EAC Economic framework to smoothen her integration. Particularly, the secretariat has to collaborate with the Federal government in Somalia in repealing laws that are not in conformity with the EAC Common Market Protocol. In its commitment to realizing the goals of the EAC, Somalia will need all the help it can get in aligning its internal laws to those of the EAC as prescribed under the protocols of the Customs Union, Common Market, and the political federation.
The nation’s economy is also heavily relied on agriculture, remittances, and informal trade, which differs significantly, especially with more diversified economies in the EAC region. Therefore, strategic adjustments must be explored in integrating the newest member into the regional market with a need for capacity building and investment in infrastructure development. Drawing from the South Sudan experience, where economic instability hampered integration efforts, it’s essential to support Somalia in establishing robust financial institutions, stable macroeconomic policies, and effective regulatory frameworks.
Long delays in repealing internal laws have impeded the free movement of people under the Common Market’s freedoms among newly admitted members in the region. Therefore, the secretariat will not only need to offer guidance on the interpretation of the integration rules but also to render human capital and technical capacity assistance to accelerate the integration process. This will be critical for Somalia in harmonizing matters on Rules of Origin, anti-dumping measures, subsidies, countervailing, common external tariffs, and trade dispute resolution mechanisms, among others. The EAC should assist Somalia in aligning its trade policies with regional standards, facilitating market access for Somali goods and services.
Security Lessons from the Past
Security was a constant agenda following the admission of DR Congo and South Sudan into the community, and the secretariat was forced to spearhead a community regional force (EACRF) into North Kivu for stability. H.E Nduva cannot afford to be content with another warring partner state going by Somalia’s long history of internal conflicts, piracy, and terrorism. Concurrently with efforts to harmonize trade terms and conditions under the framework, coordinated efforts are needed to stabilize the peace situation in Somalia.
The EAC should leverage its experience with South Sudan and Congo, where regional peacekeeping missions have been deployed, to assist Somalia in enhancing its security infrastructure. Collaborative efforts in intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, and border security will be crucial. Furthermore, fostering local reconciliation and supporting Somalia’s government in establishing the rule of law will be vital for long-term stability.
Continued stability of the nation and the regions stems from proper political integration and governance in Somalia. Thus, the secretariat must necessitate Somalia’s adoption of EAC’s good governance standards, emphasizing democracy, human rights, adherence to the rule of law, constitutionalism, and access to justice. Thus, DR Congo and South Sudan’s post-integration political instability and conflict issues must serve as a cautionary tale for the new secretary general.
The EAC must, therefore, work closely with Somalia to promote political stability, support electoral processes, and build governance capacity. Strengthening institutions to fight corruption, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability will be critical. Additionally, the EAC should facilitate dialogue between Somalia’s federal and regional authorities to foster unity and cohesive governance.
The Jumuiya Funding Crisis
At a time when the community is working on integrating Somali into the regional bloc, significant operations are in limbo, following remittance failures primarily by the newest member states. The secretariat faces challenges in ensuring Somalia does not become another financial defaulter while securing the necessary finances to drive its agenda. Currently, EAC members have only paid half of the $103 million budget for the 2023/24 financial year, while Congo has yet to pay a single coin of its $14.7 million since joining the community in 2022. South Sudan, whose president is the current EAC chairman, is owed $8.6 million with Kenya the only member to have met her financial obligations for the period.
Therefore, H.E Nduva faces the challenge of ensuring that all member states comply with funding requirements to enhance operation efficiencies. Notably, there is an urgent need to get ahead of the trend where the newest members have the highest default rates, with Congo rejecting a supplementary budget at one time. It is perhaps time for enhanced engagement between the secretariat and the Heads of State to negate the current trend of defaults, which risk the halting of more operations in Arusha. The community must, therefore, set a precedence of meeting financial obligations as a guiding principle for the soon to be integrated Federal Republic of Somalia.
Diversity and Social Integration
It is also not lost on the secretariat that there is a need to emphasize social integration in enhancing the mobility of East African citizens across the bloc as Somalia joins the community. Ensuring the free movement of people, goods, and services within the EAC requires addressing cultural and social barriers. Somalia has unique cultural and linguistic traits that must be respected and integrated into the broader EAC cultural framework to enhance acceptance. Elements of cultural exchanges, educational opportunities, and language training programs ought to be adopted to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Additionally, facilitating the mobility of Somali citizens within the EAC for work, education, and trade will be essential for full integration.
Integrating Somalia into the EAC offers immense potential for regional growth and stability. However, this process requires careful planning and concerted efforts to address economic, security, political, infrastructural, and social challenges. By learning from past experiences and implementing targeted strategies, the EAC can successfully integrate Somalia, fostering a more prosperous and united East African region. H.E. Nduva and the EAC secretariat’s leadership and commitment will be pivotal in navigating this complex but promising journey.
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