The Federal Republic of Somalia has officially joined as a full member of the East African Community after depositing its Instrument of Ratification with the Secretary General of the East African Community at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Somalia’s Instrument of Ratification was received by the Secretary General of the East African Community, Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, on Monday, March 4, 2024.

In a message posted on the EAC official handle X, the regional community confirmed that Somalia had gained full membership in the block.

Somalia becomes the eighth member of the EAC after Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The instrument of ratification is a formal document issued by a country in which it agrees to be bound by a treaty.

In December 2023, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni described the move by Somalia to join the East African Community as a big economic boost to the region.

“On behalf of the people of East Africa, I would like to welcome Somalia into the East African Community. As Somalia now joins the East African Community, we have gotten a major boost in integration,” President Museveni said.

In November 2023, the heads of state of other EAC member states agreed to admit Somalia into the regional community.