New AU report flags weak structures, varying commitment of member state as risking failure

Uneven capacities, weak structures and varying commitment of member states are threats to survival of the East African community, a new African Union report has said.

The report says while numbers of membership of the community continue to rise, the countries have different levels of growth and contribution, with some appearing less committed to its objective.

The report singles out Somalia – the latest member –  as having weak structure and war ravaged hence hindering its substantive contribution and alignment to EAC’s objectives.

The instability of the member countries such as South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo is singled out as among major hurdles to even participation and structural reforms.

“One key challenge lies in the asymmetry in national capacities and implementation of regional commitments,” the report says, adding that “while legal and institutional frameworks have been developed at the regional level, the pace and consistency of their domestication and enforcement at national levels remain uneven.”

This gap risks creating regulatory fragmentation and limiting the full benefits of a harmonised market, it says.

“Additionally, the expansion of the community, most recently with the accession of Somalia, while a positive step towards continental integration, calls for renewed efforts to strengthen institutional capacities, ensure equitable participation and manage divergent political, security and governance contexts,” the report says.

It says the delayed operationalisation of the Monetary Union and the protracted discussions on political federation also illustrate the complexity of consensus-building.

Crucially, the report also flags the dragging of feet of most of the EAC members in making their financial contribution, a fact that has undermined effectiveness of the Arusha-based secretariat.

Members like South Sudan have been previously blamed for failing to remit their dues.

“Financial contributions from Partner States to the EAC budget are sometimes delayed, affecting the effective functioning of regional institutions and programmes.”

Despite these challenges, EAC’s prospects remain promising, it says, citing its growing population, dynamic private sector and strategic location position as a hub for trade and investment.

Progress in key infrastructure projects, digital transformation and youth empowerment further provide a strong foundation for inclusive development, report adds.

“If the EAC can consolidate its achievements, reinforce compliance mechanisms and enhance internal cohesion, it will continue to serve as a leading model for African integration.”

On the scores of the level of integration of the member countries, the report shows that Kenya is leading slightly above Rwanda and Tanzania, followed by Uganda and this is attributed to strong infrastructure development, institutional resilience and aligned policies.

“The country-level integration ranking within EAC highlights a clear multi-speed dynamic, with Kenya (0.87), Rwanda (0.85), Tanzania (0.80), and Uganda (0.78) leading the process through strong institutional capacity, infrastructure development and consistent political commitment to regional objectives,” it reads.

In contrast, mid-ranking countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (0.59) and Burundi (0.58) show moderate engagement, reflecting either recent accession or structural constraints.

Somalia (0.51) and South Sudan (0.48) remain at the lower end, largely due to ongoing governance, security and implementation challenges.

Instant analysis

This distribution underscores the need for differentiated support mechanisms to ensure that all member states can meaningfully contribute to and benefit from regional integration.