The ceremony took place at the EAC headquarters here when the Somali Minister of Industry and Trade, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, presented the documents to the EAC Secretary General, Peter Mathuki, who announced the beginning of the East African country’s integration into the areas of cooperation.

From now on, Somalia, as a full member, will be able to participate in the four pillars of the EAC: it will have the right to participate in the areas of trade, investment, industrial development and free movement of people, labor and services, the official said.

For Somalia, membership in the grouping is a regional political success that, in theory, will help support the recognized central government in the face of attacks by Islamist groups, particularly Al Shabab, in control of parts of the country.

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