Recent trade wars between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda demonstrate the key challenges facing successful economic integration by the East African Community.
Since its revival in 1999, the East African Community (EAC) has been a work in progress, says political risk analysis publication Global Risk Insights (GRI).
EAC – which comprises Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi - has made important strides since the removal of internal customs tariffs in 2010, and the 2015 establishment of a common external tariff (CET) for imports into the member countries.
However, GRI notes that several violations of customs rules over the last months demonstrate how domestic pressure, coupled with underfunded and slow bureaucracies, present major challenges for further integration.
For long-term regional integration success, the EAC members must commit to their shared goals, highlights GRI, adding that substantial pressure from sensitive domestic groups should not affect these goals.
