GENERAL FAQs

What is the East African Community?

The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organisation of the Republics of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the United Republic of Tanzania with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The treaty for establishment of the East African Community was signed in 1999 and it entered into force in 2000 following its ratification by the Partner States.

What are the areas of co-operation between the Partner States?

The regional co-operation and integration envisaged in the East African Community is wide ranging, involving co-operation in political, economic, social and cultural fields, research, technology and skills development, defence, security and legal affairs for mutual and equitable development in the region.

How is the East African Community managed?

The main organs of the East African Community are the Summit of Heads of State, the Council of Ministers, the Co-ordination Committee, the East African Court of Justice, the East African Legislative Assembly, and the Secretariat.

Autonomous institutions of the Community are the East African Development Bank, Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation and the Inter-University Council for East Africa.

What are the aims and objectives of the East African Community?

The East African Community aims at widening and deepening co-operation among the Partner States in, among others, political, economic and social fields for their mutual benefit. To this extent there shall be established a Customs Union as the entry point of the Community, a Common Market, subsequently a Monetary Union and ultimately a Political Federation of the East African States.

SEE EAC SECTOR-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:

Office of the Secretary General
Travelling in East Africa
Investing in East Africa

FAQs ABOUT THE EAC CUSTOMS UNION:

Transit Goods
Manufacture Under Bond (MUB)
Export Processing Zones
Customs Agent
EAC Customs Offences
Prohibited & Restricted Goods
Warehousing
EAC Rules of Origin