South Sudan to officially join EAC on Friday

The East African Community (EAC) said on Tuesday the treaty for accession of South Sudan will be signed in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

The EAC secretariat based in Tanzania's northern tourist circuit of Arusha said in a statement that President John Magufuli will sign the document as the chairman of the EAC Heads of State Summit, while South Sudan President Salva Kiir will sign for his country, the newest member to the regional bloc.

Current members of the EAC are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

South Sudan was admitted to the EAC during the 17th Ordinary Summit of the regional leaders held in Tanzania 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, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Burundi Vice-Pesident Joseph Butore endorsed Juba's application.

EAC has lately attracted countries neighbouring the bloc. Sudan is reported to have applied to join the bloc while Comoro and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have shown willingness.

Source: XINHUA