There’s a credible case for DRC admission into EAC

An appeal to that effect has been made by the East African Business Council (EABC), whose executive director says DRC membership would mean considerable trade benefits for other member states. It isn’t a straightforward proposal as such, but it has unquestionable merits.

In launching that appeal, EABC Executive Director Dr Peter Mathuki did not precisely state out how DRC fits into membership description. However, he took note of its having borders with most EAC member states as well as the considerable trade and investment potential in that country, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

It is unclear how the preliminary issues may pose difficulties for DRC admission, or say how far the issue is being examined, since DRC filed an application to join the trade body in June last year. Needless to say, the EAC Secretariat, the EAC Council of Ministers and the EAC Summit still have things to iron out on DRC.

It is equally not easy to say whether DRC membership can be decided singularly on economic benefits envisaged, or which can definitely be expected from such membership, other things remaining equal.

What can be said is that the regional business apex body has reason to believe that things are likely to improve in the sprawling neighbouring state rather than getting worse – and admission into EAC membership could help dynamise, or galvanise, change in that country. It is a matter of trends, projection.

For one thing, DRC held elections that remained somewhat below standard for international observers back in 2017 but it has largely remained stable, and by the time it holds new elections in a year or two things could have changed for the better.

In that regard as well, instead of EAC waiting until DRC holds an electoral exercise that is truly above board, it can help to strengthen its resolve in that direction by according it regional trading bloc membership. At any rate, EAC members have held flawed polls as well.

What is perhaps more encouraging at the political case is that DRC doesn’t have border contentions with EAC member states, though there has been intense contentions actually for its resources from different quarters, not least from EAC member states.

Sitting around the table to put trade issues in a formal manner the way President John Magufuli ended the mess in business in minerals in northeastern Tanzania is an example of institution building. It may not be easy for the summit or advisory bodies to agree, but it is plausible.

That is why it is perfectly all right for the EABC to air the need for greater effort to admit DRC into the regional body. It is even more so given that EAC member states have all sorts of reasons to be wary of DRC membership, and precisely in this context the EABC chips in, that the benefits outweigh not the costs but the fears.

We can end with an epitaph from Dr Mathuki to the effect that admitting DRC into the EAC is a vital need now, with countries across the world joining hands to create strong economic unions. At times countries need to take a leap of faith so that certain things happen rather than wait for nature to do it.