President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has expressed his country’s interest to join the East African Community as its 7th member.
In a letter written to President Paul Kagame who is the current chairperson of the East African Community, Mr Tsishekedi said that the decision was as a result of the increasing trade between his country and the members of the East Africa Community (EAC).
The letter stated that “Following the conversation we had in Kigali and later on in Kinshasa and the interest that showed my country to adhere to the community of the East African Community, I am honoured to make an official adhesion request,”.
Although the Central African nation is also a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), it handles huge transactions with East African countries with most of the imports passing through the port of Mombasa.
The Democratic Republic Of Congo, is one of the biggest countries in Sub Saharan Africa with a total area of 2.3 million square kilometres and a population of more than 70 million people.
During a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, President Tsishekedi said that East African countries would benefit more, upon DRC’s entry into the community.
