DR Congo admitted to East Africa trade bloc

The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially been admitted to the East African Community (EAC) trade bloc.

It follows approval by the EAC heads of state during a summit chaired by Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Three years after it applied to join the bloc, DR Congo becomes the seventh member alongside Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Its citizens will now be able to enjoy the privileges that come with membership of the community such as free movement of people, goods, services and capital.
However, restrictions will be not lifted overnight from Tuesday.
DR Congo's parliament will still have to ratify the EAC laws and regulations and deposit the instruments of acceptance with the secretariat before they come into effect.
The EAC is also expected to consider a proposal for the simultaneous translation of French and Kiswahili during the community’s meetings.
East African presidents called for peace in eastern DR Congo and improvement of the country’s infrastructure for the region to gain the full benefits of the admission.
DR Congo consumer market of close to 90 million people is expected to expand the regional market to cover close to 300 million people.
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