The East African Community (EAC) is expected to send a team to South Sudan to assess the country’s readiness to join the regional bloc later this month.
EAC secretary general Dr Richard Sezibera said the team will vet South Sudan for entry into the customs union territory.
He was speaking during a meeting with German parliamentarians on a visit to the Community’s headquarters in Arusha on Monday.
“We want to know whether South Sudan is willing and able to open its markets to the rest of the community,” said EAC spokesperson Owora Othieno.
Adopted in 2005, the Customs Union Protocol establishes a single external tariff for goods coming into the Community. It also abolishes internal tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade within the region.
South Sudan, Africa’s newest state, applied for entry in the EAC months after its independence from Sudan last year.
In April, Heads of State from the five EAC countries deferred their decision on the application until November this year pending a verification process.
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