Somalia has renewed its bid to join the East African Community (EAC) trade bloc, after the country’s newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Arusha to attend the ongoing 22nd Ordinary East Africa Community Heads of State Summit.

”I am here to make a formal bid for Somalia to join the East African Community,” Mohamud said.

The leader had initiated the bid during his first term between 2012 and 2017 together with DRC, but members declined due to war and disorder in Somalia.

The inclusion of Somalia in the regional trading bloc will make EAC a plus 100 million population market after the addition of DRC pushed it to 92 million.

It is also likely to push the region’s combined GDP above Tsh. 589 trilion, from the current Tsh. 490 Trilion after the addition of DRC.