Background
The East African Community (EAC) functions as an intergovernmental entity, bringing together seven nations in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. The current EAC chairman is Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current President of Burundi. The EAC is comprised of the following nations:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Republic of Kenya
- Burundi
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Uganda
The EAC was established in 1967, experienced a collapse in 1977, and underwent revival on 7 July 2000. In 2008, following negotiations with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the EAC agreed to an expanded free trade area that encompasses member states from all three organisations. It is important to note that the EAC plays a significant role as part of the broader African Economic Community. [source]
