DR Congo Officially Joins East Africa Trade Bloc

The Democratic Republic of Congo has joined the East African Community (EAC) as its seventh member, massively expanding the territory of the trade bloc.

The move gives it access to the Atlantic Ocean and greatly increasing the numbers of French speakers in what began as a club of former British colonies.

Congolese lawmakers still have to ratify the EAC laws and regulations before they come into effect.

Congolese citizens wishing to visit the other member countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda – without a visa may need to wait a little longer because full integration into the EAC could take months or even a year.

For example, South Sudan took four months from acceding to the community treaty in April 2016 to becoming a full member of the EAC in August that year.

DR Congo applied for membership in 2019, hoping to improve trade and political ties with its East African neighbours.

It will allow Congolese citizens to travel freely to the other countries and trade will become much quicker, simpler and cheaper, which should benefit businesses and consumers in all countries.

The country shares borders with all EAC members except Kenya, and hopes to attract more investors from the region.

Import taxes for goods accepted as being made in DR Congo will be removed or greatly reduced when entering the other countries, while transporting goods will become much cheaper.