Somalia seeks to join E. Africa trading bloc

[walaalkis]

AFP)

 

NAIROBI — War-torn Somalia has applied to join the East African Community, a five-member bloc with a single market allowing free trade and movement of citizens, the group's current chair Kenya said.

 

Kenya said it had received the request which will be considered by the members.

 

"The request follows major developments in Somalia that have seen the country begin the journey to stability and peace after several years of civil strife," said the statement from the Kenyan presidency.

 

Somalia has been ravaged by a relentless conflict since 1991, and a lack of effective central authority has allowed pirate gangs, extremist militia and other armed groups to control mini-fiefdoms.

 

The international community last month launched a new attempt to restore stability in the anarchic country at a meeting with Somali leaders in London.

 

The East African Community comprises Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda which entered a common market in 2010.

 

The EAC is currently working to form a monetary union by 2012 and, ultimately, a political federation.

another good news for my people and the business minded

[Carafaat]

I am afraid it will take a while and a lot of effort to become part of the East African Community. But fortuantly EAC see Somalia as a potential member once [somalia get its act t ogether. As Amb. Juma Volter Mwapachu, former Secretary General of EAC, told me. He was being awarded a prize by the Queen herself here in Holland and being crowned as the new President of Society of International Development.

 

Juma is a viosonary leader, he brought and developed the EAC to what it is today. Since his leadership the 3 country bloc expanded with Ruandan, Burundi and now South Sudan applied for membership. It's exppanded its mandate from being only a paper border control system for goods and people developed in to a real Trading bloc with its own Trade Politics and negoitiating with other countries as bloc. Countries specialising on certain sectors and adding value to eachother.

 

This where we should heading to, we should be heading up. Creating added value for our people. And not down and adding more fire to little village clan politics.

[walaalkis]

Carafaat;799729 wrote:

As Amb. Juma Volter Mwapachu, former Secretary General of EAC, told me. He was being awarded a prize by the Queen herself here in Holland and being crowned as the new President of Society of International Development..

 

Looks like you been putting your legs in high level. We somalis excel this sort of market. Only thing that keeps us from

every becoming major players in this field , it's our own problems. We already have business connection and influences in those area . like you said we need to keep our heads up and not concentrate on our differences in clan names.

[Carafaat]

Indeed. Sxb, I was lucky to meet him. Actually I was asked to write the Dutch speech for his speech and receive the Ambssador during meeting and he was a lot of fun and we are friends now. He invited me to Dar es Salaam.