History of the EAC

History of the EAC

The roots of integration

A long history of working together

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have enjoyed a long history of co-operation under successive regional integration arrangements — beginning with the Customs Union between Kenya and Uganda in 1917, which the then Tanganyika later joined in 1927.

 

Following the dissolution of the former East African Community in 1977, the Member States negotiated a Mediation Agreement for the Division of Assets and Liabilities, signed in 1984. As one of its provisions, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda agreed to explore areas of future co-operation and make concrete arrangements for it.

 

Subsequent meetings of the three Heads of State led to the signing of the Agreement for the Establishment of the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation on 30 November 1993 — and ultimately to the Treaty that brought today's Community into being.

Earlier arrangements
2022 – 2024
Framework for Institutional Capacity Building and Shared Services
2019 – 2022
Strategic Partnership for National Digital Infrastructure Integration
2016 – 2019
Inter-Agency Telecommunications and Data Center Consortium
2012 – 2016
National Electronic Governance Initiative and Legacy Support
2008 – 2012
Initial Infrastructure Development and Technical Advisory Board
The founding Treaty

The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was signed in Arusha on 30 November 1999, and entered into force on 7 July 2000 — upon which the East African Community came into being.

2000
Community
re-established
Milestones

Milestones of EAC integration

30 Nov
1993
Summit

1st Summit of East African Heads of State sign the Agreement establishing the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation in Kampala, Uganda.

14 Mar
1996

Secretariat of the Commission for East African Co-operation launched in Arusha, Tanzania.

29 Apr
1997
Summit

2nd Summit held in Arusha; 1st Development Strategy, East African Flag and East African Passport launched; Commission mandated to upgrade the Agreement into a Treaty.

30 Apr
1998

9th Meeting of the Permanent Tripartite Commission launches a draft Treaty; signs MoU on Defence Co-operation and agreements on Road and Inland Waterway Transport.

30 Nov
1999
Treaty

4th Summit held in Arusha at which the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community is signed.

7 Jul
2000
Treaty

Treaty enters into force; the new regional organisation — the East African Community — comes into being.

15 Jan
2001
Summit

1st Summit of the EAC held in Arusha; signs Protocols on rules of procedure and admission; Community formally launched at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium.

30 Nov
2001
Institutions

3rd Summit; Heads of State inaugurate the East African Legislative Assembly and the East African Court of Justice.

2 Mar
2004
Customs Union

EAC Summit signs the Protocol for the Establishment of the EAC Customs Union.

1 Jan
2005
Customs Union

EAC Customs Union becomes operational.

1 Jul
2007
New Member

Rwanda and Burundi become full members of the EAC (acceded 18 June 2007).

20 Nov
2009
Common Market

Protocol for the Establishment of the EAC Common Market signed; 10th Anniversary celebrations; foundation stone laid for EAC Headquarters in Arusha.

1 Jul
2010
Common Market

EAC Common Market Protocol enters into force following ratification by all five Partner States.

28 Nov
2012
Institutions

Presidents of the EAC Partner States officially inaugurate the new EAC Headquarters in Arusha.

30 Nov
2013
Monetary Union

Protocol for the Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union signed.

5 Sep
2016
New Member

The Republic of South Sudan becomes a full member of the EAC (joined 16 April 2016).

29 Mar
2022
New Member

The Democratic Republic of the Congo accedes to the EAC Treaty, becoming the Community’s seventh Partner State.

4 Mar
2024
New Member

The Federal Republic of Somalia becomes a full member of the EAC, bringing the Community to eight Partner States.