ARUSHA: AS Tanzania celebrates its 63rd Independence Anniversary today, the nation takes pride in being one of the founding members of the East African Community (EAC).
The first EAC, which succeeded the East African Common Services Organisation on December 1, 1967, was established through the Treaty for East African Co-operation, signed in June 1967 by the presidents of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Although the original EAC collapsed in 1977, the bonds between the three nations were reinforced with the formation of the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation in November 1993.
The Treaty to re-establish the EAC was signed in Arusha on November 30, 1999 and it entered into force on July 7, 2000, after all three partner states had ratified it and deposited their Instruments of Ratification with the Secretary General.
Tanzania, under the late President Benjamin Mkapa, worked closely with Kenya, led by the late President Daniel Arap Moi and Uganda, under President Yoweri Museveni, to revive the bloc in 1999.
The second iteration of the EAC aimed to create deeper integration among its members, with the ultimate goal of forming a regional political federation similar to the European Union. Tanzania’s leadership, from the nation’s founder Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, has always emphasised unity and solidarity.
The country was disheartened by the collapse of the first EAC in 1977 and worked tirelessly with Kenya and Uganda to restore the community in 1999. Recognising Tanzania’s pivotal role in the establishment of the EAC, the member states agreed to base the EAC headquarters in Arusha.
As the headquarters of the EAC, Arusha hosts key activities such as conferences and initiatives aimed at fostering regional cooperation in areas like the economy and business.
Tanzania’s commitment to regional integration Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has reiterated Tanzania’s commitment to regional integration and the enhancement of intra-EAC trade.
Speaking at the EAC Council of Ministers’ meeting in Arusha last month, Amb Kombo emphasised Tanzania’s continued support for a stronger EAC.
His commitment was echoed by his deputy, Mr Dennis Londo, who, during his swearing-in as an Ex-Officio Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Kampala, Uganda, pledged unwavering dedication to the EAC integration agenda.
He stressed that regional integration would yield significant benefits for the citizens of East Africa, including wealth creation, improved living standards and increased global competitiveness.
Mr Londo also commended EALA members for their role in passing key legislation to drive regional integration and assured his full support for a prosperous East Africa, which marked 25th anniversary in Arusha last month.
Celebrating regional bloc’s progress and looking ahead The EAC recently marked its 25th anniversary with a high-level event in Arusha, reflecting on its achievements in regional integration, trade promotion, peace and security and digital transformation.
The event, themed “EAC@25: A Reflective Journey and Future Aspirations,” highlighted the significant strides the community has made since its revival in 1999. EAC leaders have renewed their vision of a political federation, a dream rooted in the aspirations of East Africa’s founding statesmen.
Over the past 25 years, the EAC has built a robust integration framework consisting of four key pillars: the Customs Union, the Common Market, the Monetary Union and ongoing efforts toward a Political Federation.
The Customs Union, launched in 2005, has played a key role in reducing trade barriers and enhancing the movement of goods across borders, fostering a more competitive regional market.
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The Common Market Protocols have also boosted intra-regional trade, stimulated economic growth and created new opportunities for businesses and individuals. Strengthening trade, peace and security .
The EAC has made notable progress in trade facilitation through initiatives such as the Single Customs Territory and One-Stop Border Posts, which streamline customs processes and minimise delays.
In addition, the community has strengthened its peace and security framework, enhanced conflict prevention mechanisms and engaging in joint peacekeeping missions to foster a more secure environment for citizens.
The EAC has embraced digital transformation as a critical enabler of integration. Key initiatives like the East African Payment System (EAPS), which facilitates cross-border transactions in local currencies and various e-government platforms have revolutionised citizen-government interactions and cross-border transactions.
The EAC has expanded its membership from the original three founding members Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to include Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia.
This expansion reflects the growing influence and commitment to regional integration. In addition, the EAC has focused on building institutional capacities to support regional integration, creating frameworks for digital integration and promoting trade and investment.
The Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), funded by the World Bank, aims to increase cross-border broadband connectivity and support the development of a dynamic digital market, further contributing to the region’s growth.
A bright future for EAC
As the EAC celebrates its silver jubilee, it stands at a pivotal juncture, reflecting on its past achievements while looking forward to a bold future.
The community aims to leverage digital transformation to tackle current challenges and further enhance regional integration, in line with the EAC Vision 2050 and the African Union Agenda 2063.
In her remarks at the anniversary event, EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva expressed gratitude to the partner states, development partners and citizens for their unwavering support.
She reaffirmed the commitment to continue building a prosperous and integrated East Africa, a region that remains a beacon of hope and opportunity.
The anniversary celebration not only marked past successes but also set the stage for future discussions on enhancing trade, peace and security through digital integration, ensuring that the EAC remains a competitive and cohesive economic bloc in the global arena.
