The tension between Kinshasa and the regional force of the East African Community has created multiple stirs, but this does not affect the membership of the Democratic Republic of Congo in this sub-regional organization. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi stressed that the DRC’s membership of the East African Community is the result of a carefully considered decision. This integration will facilitate cross-border trade, as well as the free movement of goods and people within the space.
There are several benefits that the DRC can derive from its membership in the East African Community. The common telecommunications space will allow the reduction of costs with neighboring countries, the reduction of charges and the increase of commercial and economic activities of citizens as well as the facilitation of their mobility between countries. Moreover, the admission of French as an official language of the Community alongside English and Swahili, combined with the enlargement of the market, which includes an estimated Congolese population of 90 million, will offer new economic prospects. .
Despite this, the mission of the East African Community regional force deployed in eastern DRC has not been smooth. Disagreements between the DRC and the regional force relate to the nature, mandate and mission of the regional force, in particular concerning its offensive mission. This disagreement led Kinshasa to turn to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to settle security issues in the east of the country.
The deployment of the SADC military force will replace that of the East African Community force. Nevertheless, President Tshisekedi has given the East African Community regional force a second chance. The latter could play an important role in the fight against the activism of local and foreign armed groups as well as terrorists in the east.
Apart from security issues, the Democratic Republic of Congo also faces a series of challenges, including deadly floods, increasing sexual violence, a corn flour crisis and economic stimulus. Despite this, the Congolese government is actively working to address these issues, with a series of plans and initiatives