Joining East African Community is a suicidal action for South Sudan.

By: Michael Thon Mangok, SOUTH SUDAN

JULY 02/2011, SSN; Since south Sudan signed a peace agreement in 2005, there has been a great indication that people of southern Sudan will vote for separation. This gave a semi-autonomous south other options like joining East African Community should the south seceded from the North. In 2007 GOSS applied for membership in East African Community.

My weekend was disturbed last week when I saw an electronic banner at Muduria roundabout in Juba with the word written. 'Welcome to No. 6 country of East Africa”. Who said we are members of East African Community and wanted to be members any way? This statement should be dismissed with the contempt it deserved.

I believe this country lacks directives and national guidance. Individuals in leadership think that joining East African Community is just about having their families, Hummers and V8s in East Africa.  This desire has an element of ignorance and lack of care for future generations. 

If we make a mistake to join East African as soon as possible like our leaders are contemplating, it then this will be the beginning of the end of this country. God forbid.

Let me give you the brief historical background of East African community since its inception and how it was revived and the common market protocol to understand it better and  judge who needs who in East African community and why?

Inter-territorial co-operation between the Kenya colony, the Uganda protectorate and the Tanganyinka territory was first formalized in 1948 by the East Africa high commission. This provided a customs union, a common external tariffs, currency and postage. 

Following independence, these integrated activities were reconstituted and replaced by the East African common services Organization. Many observers thought it would lead to a political federation between three territories. 

But the new organization ran into difficulties because of the lack of joint planning and fiscal policy, separate political policies and Kenya dominant economic position.

In 1967, the East African common services organization was superseded by East African community. The main aim was to strengthen the ties between the members through common markets, a common customs tariff and a range of public services to achieve balanced economic growth within the region.

In 1977 the East African community collapsed because Kenya demanded more seats than Uganda and Tanzania in decision making organ. Disagreement with Dictator Idi Amin and the disparate economic system of socialism in Tanzania and capitalism in Kenya.

Common markets protocol

East African community was revived on 7^th July 2000 and in July 2010 the common market protocol  was launched. The protocol led to the free movement of labor, capital, goods and services within EAC

Member states will have to change their national laws to allow the full implementation of some aspect of the common markets such as immigration and customs. They are now working to implement common currency by 2012 and political confederation by 2015.

Who need who?

South Sudan needs East Africa in terms of foreign relations because of its positions as a land-locked country. It is widely believed that the new nation would move its oil pipes to Kenyan port of Lamu and export it to the world market.

Also Kenya and Uganda has been a home base of south Sudanese during the war and this make it more preferable to many of our citizens as the culture of East Africa emerges among young people who went to schools in Kenya and Uganda. And perhaps who knows, may be because East Africa becomes a place to hide in. Many people who have looted enough money during the six years of interim periods bought houses in Nairobi and Kampala. All these are not reasonable enough to join East African community.

East African Community needs south Sudan

According to the condition of common market protocol, south Sudan is not qualified to become a member because it has no economy, not to mention the non-existence of industries. But it would be advantageous to Kenya and Uganda if South Sudan becomes a member.

First and foremost, Kenya’s dominance of industries and economic growth will give her opportunity to market her goods and services freely in south Sudan. They will also enjoy the free movement of labor given the facts that Kenyans are more educated than their economy can employ them. South Sudan will be a God-given market without tariff.

For Uganda, the whole process of East African community integration is a project of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He wanted to take leadership of East African Community come 2017 should the political federation be achieved. 

Apart from getting free markets for their local goods and services, South Sudan would be potential voters for Museveni because of the huge relationship between SPLM and NRM. Therefore, no matter what Kenya and Uganda will push hard to make sure that south Sudan gets through to become a member of EAC.

South Sudan will have no local goods and services that will compete in the region because we don’t have industries and may take us ten years to achieve that.  Our labor will be too vulnerable to the rest of the region due to lack of education, and these will result into Kenya and Uganda domination of our markets in terms of labor capital.

“If we dare joining East African community, we would be out competed in every job, even if they would need a toilet keeper in South Sudan, a Kenyan or a Ugandan will take it because he/she would be more qualified for that job”.

Our population should be informed about the future dangers of joining East Africa. They should stop listening to the politicians whose ignorance is beyond their conscience. They see the future of this country in their own perspective not the future generation’s perspective.

We have every thing to be the best economy in the continent and it just needs vision to get there other than membership of East African community.

The writer is a social critic; Kochadit@gmail.com

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