South Sudan cabinet domesticates EAC treaty and protocols

JUBA – A meeting of South Sudan’s council of ministers held in the capital Juba on Friday approved the East African Community (EAC) treaty and its protocols to ensure smooth enforcement and execution of EAC plans.

The cabinet, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, approved the memo presented by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Justice Ruben Madol.

Speaking to reporters following a regular cabinet meeting in Juba, deputy information minister Jacob Maiju Korok stated that the alignment would benefit South Sudanese in terms of trade and the free movement of people and goods.

“This treaty is to align South Sudan’s laws with EAC, so we benefit in many ways in terms of trade and the community will actually embark on free movement and many things,” Korok explained.

“The purpose of this bill is to domesticate the treaty establishing the EAC and its protocols in the national laws of the Republic of South Sudan,” he added.

The acting government spokesman said the EAC treaty would be an integral part of law in South Sudan. Bloc decisions require member states to align their treaties and protocols into their national laws.

In terms of trade integration, the custom union and common market protocols allow member states to enjoy bloc benefits.

The EAC consists of eight countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the latest entrant Somalia.