East African Community
The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation composed of eight countries in East Africa. The member states are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of South Sudan, is the current EAC chairman. The organisation was founded in 1967, collapsed in 1977, and was revived on 7th July 2000. The main objective of the EAC was to foster regional economic integration.
East African Community
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| Motto: "Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki" | |
| Anthem: "Wimbo wa Jumuiya Afrika Mashariki" | |
An orthographic map projection of the world, highlighting the East African Community's member states (green) | |
| Headquarters | Arusha, Tanzania 3°22′S 36°41′E |
| Largest city | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
| Official languages | Swahili, English, French |
| Lingua franca | Swahili |
| Demonym(s) | East African |
| Type | Intergovernmental |
| Partner states | |
| Leaders | |
• Summit Chairperson | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
• Council Chairperson | Deng Dau Deng |
• EACJ President | Nestor Kayobera |
• EALA Speaker | Joseph Ntakarutimana |
• Secretary General | Peter Mathuki |
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly |
| Establishment | |
• First established | 1967 |
• Dissolved | 1977 |
• Re-established | 7 July 2000 |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,448,020 km2 (2,103,490 sq mi) (7th) |
• Water (%) | 4.14 |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 312,362,653 (4th) |
• Density | 58.4/km2 (151.3/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2022 estimate |
• Total | US$923.532 billion (34th) |
• Per capita | US$3,286 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2022 estimate |
• Total | US$332.764 billion (50th) |
• Per capita | US$1,184.87 |
| HDI (2019) | 0.540 low |
| Currency | East African shilling (EAS) |
Website www | |
In 2008, after negotiations with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the EAC agreed to an expanded free trade area including the member states of all three organizations. The EAC is an integral part of the African Economic Community.
The EAC is a potential precursor to the establishment of the East African Federation, a proposed federation of its members into a single sovereign state. In 2010, the EAC launched its own common market for goods, labour, and capital within the region, with the goal of creating a common currency and eventually a full political federation. In 2013, a protocol was signed outlining their plans for launching a monetary union within 10 years. In September 2018, a committee was formed to begin the process of drafting a regional constitution.