Project Summary
The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) was admitted as a full Member of the East African Community on October 1st, 2016. Membership in the Regional Bloc was attained following several months of difficult Technical-Level Negotiations that assessed the development of South Sudan Government’s policies and programmes in a range of areas including, among other, in economic, financial, trade, environment, education and health spheres. This was despite the …
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The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) was admitted as a full Member of the East African Community on October 1st, 2016. Membership in the Regional Bloc was attained following several months of difficult Technical-Level Negotiations that assessed the development of South Sudan Government’s policies and programmes in a range of areas including, among other, in economic, financial, trade, environment, education and health spheres. This was despite the very difficult internal environment related to an on-going internal strife and the resultant severe economic and humanitarian crisis prevailing in the country.
South Sudan’s Membership in the Regional Bloc is a somewhat unique development. Never before in the world’s economic history has a country with such short history of independence, with such limited human development and suffering such significant political, security and economic turmoil has joined a Regional Integration Bloc that is as advanced. Membership in the EAC entails the establishment of a Customs Union, a Common Market and a Monetary Union. As such it may be the largest single reform process that the Government of South Sudan has so far committed to undertake. EAC areas of cooperation are wide ranging and include common laws, institutions and harmonization of economic, education or health policies. By signing the Treaty of Accession to the EAC South Sudan Government made a legally binding commitment to implement business friendly policies, improve governance and external accountability and undertake an extensive Regional Integration agenda.
As a result the East African Community opens a somewhat unique opportunity for promotion of democratic, governance and economic reforms through a Regional Integration process that takes place within the larger East Africa Region. South Sudan is now required to accept the fundamental principles of the Community which include peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness, peaceful settlement of disputes, good governance, de Fold in