THE Chairman of the East African Community (EAC), President John Magufuli and the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, yesterday signed the Treaty of Accession of the latter into the EAC.
Speaking at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Dr Magufuli hailed South Sudan, noting that he was proud of the historical event at the time when Tanzania is the Chair of the Community and that a new chapter of cooperation and relations with the Sudan has emerged.
He added that historically, South Sudan has maintained close relations with East African countries in various fields. The president also said that the inclusion of South Sudan has enlarged the community’s market consumer base which has an estimated 160 million people.
Dr Magufuli reiterated that for the EAC to make sustainable development it was paramount for peace to be maintained, urging the South Sudan to intensify peace negotiation processes.
“However, the whole concept of cooperation is to expand business, investment and infrastructure to enable sustainable development with the community, thus I reiterate for member states to maintain peace to reach our intended goals,” said President Magufuli. He also commended President Kiir on his efforts towards ensuring that his country joins the EAC just four months after attaining her independence.
On his part, President Kiir expressed his deep appreciation and the achievement attained of becoming a full member of the EAC. He also thanked President Magufuli and other presidents of member states for unanimously approving his country’s accession to EAC. President Kiir added that the decision to join EAC was whole heartedly and has the intention of strengthening cooperation for the benefit of EAC people as a whole.
He said that his country has started making reforms in various systems in his government in order to enable it to participate fully in various steps of cooperation including forming a ministry incharge of EAC. “Eventually, South Sudan has come home.
EAC is the right forum for my country since EAC is a union which is respected not only in Africa but worldwide,” said the president. Further, the president has announced opening of his country’s embassy in the country and has already appointed Mariano Deng Ngor as the new South Sudan Envoy to Tanzania.
Earlier before the signing of the Communique, the Minister for East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation and the Chairman of Council of Minister in EAC Ambassador, Dr Augustine Mahiga said that the EAC would cooperate very closely with international community to ensure that the people who were displaced by the South Sudan conflict return to develop their country. The Republic of South Sudan attained its independence in July 9, 2011 and presented its application to join the EAC on November10, 2011.
The announcement of their acceptance to join the EAC as full member was made by the EAC Chairman at the 17 meeting of EAC heads of state which was held in Arusha in March, this year.
