South Sudan is now a weight on the East African Community (EAC), it has been dragging down integration efforts and has strained the resources of its neighbours. This has had a negative impact on the region as a whole. South Sudan has been an obstacle to regional integration and has caused tension within the EAC. Its membership has been a source of contention and has been used as a justification for other members to slow down or halt integration efforts. South Sudan’s continued membership in the EAC is therefore not in the best interests of the region.
When South Sudan was admitted to the East African Community in 2016, it was seen as a big step forward for regional integration. Six years later, however, domestic problems, including weak institutions, have eaten into its will to integrate, leaving neighbours feeling the burden.
South Sudan’s weak institutions are a major barrier to regional integration. The government is unable to provide basic services to its citizens, let alone facilitate cross-border trade. Corruption is rampant, and infrastructure is poor. These problems have led to tensions with neighbouring countries, who have borne the brunt of the burden.
In spite of the many challenges that South Sudan faces, the government has made progress in recent years in areas such as combating corruption and investing in infrastructure projects. These investments are important in helping to improve the lives of the people of South Sudan and lay the foundation for further progress in the future.
South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan in 2011, but only three years later descended into a devastating civil war. Today, even at relative peace, the country remains on the brink of war. This conflict has been exacerbated by a number of factors, including the failure of the government to achieve economic stability or to effectively provide basic services to its citizens. Additionally, ethnic divisions have led to much of the violence, as various groups vie for power and resources. If South Sudan is to avoid returning to all-out war, its leaders must work to address these underlying issues.
In 2016, when South Sudan’s leaders decided to join the East African Community (EAC), they hoped that the country would be able to take advantage of regional support. This support would include the safety of neighbouring countries with whom South Sudan could trade, and improve the lives of its citizens. However, since joining the EAC, South Sudan has become a humanitarian burden, needing food aid and refuge for its fleeing citizens.
The country has failed to implement the Customs Union and the Common Market protocols, two of the basic pillars of the EAC. In fact, more than 18 months since he was appointed, the South Sudan minister in charge of EAC Affairs Deng Alor Kuol is yet to set foot in Arusha, the EAC headquarters where the council meets regularly to make decisions.
“South Sudan joined the EAC in 2016, with expectations that joining will be able to stabilise their institutions politically, socially and economically,” said John Kalisa, chief executive of the East African Business Council.
“But after joining they fell off again. The conflict distorted all the programmes, progress and projects because they even threatened the donors who were ready to support their integration agenda. So they created a lot of fears, because of their political risk,” he told The EastAfrican.
Applied for EAC membership in 2011 but the process of admission was delayed for a number of reasons, key among them internal conflicts. The country was admitted during the 17th Ordinary Heads of State Summit in Arusha on February 2,2016.
Missed deadlines
In Juba, delays in the ratification of protocols and non-implementation of ratified protocols have combined to impair the smooth enforcement and execution of EAC plans.
Bloc decisions requiring amendments to national laws have often remained outstanding for a long time.
In terms of trade integration, the Customs Union is operational within the EAC – except in South Sudan, which is yet to fully meet the accession requirements to the EAC. It has missed deadlines twice. DRC will have at least three years to operationalise the Customs Union.
Adopt common laws
EAC’s establishing treaty doesn’t have provisions for expelling errant members as leaders thought members would at least show the will to adopt common laws.
While EAC partner states have adopted the CET (common external tariffs) e-Tariff tool kit framework and the Single Customs Territory (SCT) procedures, which have been simplified and harmonised, South Sudan is still learning the ropes.
During the 39th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment held in Arusha on November 12, 2021, South Sudan’s National Revenue Authority observed that the country is yet to fully implement the Customs Union.
The meeting was informed that the Secretariat and partner states have updated the SCT Procedure manual to incorporate changes to the Single Customs Territory clearance processes that have taken place since 2014.
The changes include transmission of data through a centralised platform, multi-modal importation process, process for inland waterways/lakes to cover goods transported on ferries and process for temporary transfer of motor vehicles.
Common market protocol
The recently-released African Integration Report 2021 on the Status of Regional Integration in Africa reveals that South Sudan is yet to enjoy the benefits of a common market protocol that came into effect in 2010.
“The free movement of people within the EAC is a reality grounded in the EAC CM (common market) Protocol. However, whereas all the states have signed and ratified this protocol, national laws in South Sudan are yet to be fully harmonised to conform to it,” the report reads.
“East Africans can move across the region without the need for visas except in the case of South Sudan that is still in the process of conforming.”
Common market
Nevertheless, bilateral arrangements exist that have seen Kenya lift visa requirements for South Sudan citizens with effect from July 26, 2021. However, the majority of Kenyans visiting South Sudan are still forced to pay for a visa.
South Sudan hardly remits its contributions to the EAC yet its citizens and MPs have been accommodated in the EAC’s organs and institutions.
South Sudan was yet to disburse $27.4 million while Burundi had not disbursed $7.44 million by February.
Insecurity, extortion and harassment by security agencies of Sudan are also hindering trade at the Nimule-Elegu border post between South Sudan and Uganda, the busiest land border in South Sudan, where 90 percent of goods imported from Uganda are processed.
The EastAfrican contributed to this report