The ceremony took place at the EAC headquarters here, where the Somali Minister of Industry and Trade, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, presented the documents to EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki, who announced the beginning of 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 regional organization is a regional political success that, in theory, will help to support the recognized central government in the face of attacks by Islamic groups, in particular Al Shabab, which control parts of the country. jg/abo/mem/msl