Amount paid by Somalia to the EAC budget: $7.8m

For the fiscal year 2024–2025, Somalia has paid the whole amount owed in budget contributions, totaling $7.8 million.

Defeating Congo, which joined the group two years ago and hasn’t made a single contribution, was Mogadishu.

Just before the EAC budget was presented to the legislative assembly last month, the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent in $7,853,071.

Therefore, the budget for Somalia increased from $103,842,880 in Financial Year 2023–2024 to $112,984,442 in 2024–2025 due to the contribution.

Presenting a report of the Committee General Purposes, MP Kennedy Mukulia stated, “The joining of Somalia places additional responsibilities and obligations to the EAC Organs and Institutions.”

“It should be noted that although the Community’s budget appears to have increased, this increase is primarily attributable to Somalia’s contribution of $7,853,071.”

Burundi owed the EAC $11.2 million, South Sudan $8.6 million, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($4.7 million) as of June 2024.

Kenya has made all necessary contributions. The minimal arrears owed by other EAC member states are as follows: Rwanda owes $920,869, Tanzania $122,694, and Uganda $200,203.

Mr. Mukulia stated, “To facilitate the activities of the financial year ending on June 30, 2024, there is an urgent need for disbursement of the outstanding contributions for FY’2023/2024, as well as arrears.”

Following a critical regional summit last month in Nairobi, Somalia demonstrated great involvement and recently reiterated its commitment to integrating into the EAC.

In order to guarantee thorough integration, Secretary-General Veronica Nduva stated at the ceremony that “it is now time to align Somalia’s national processes with regional frameworks.”

Activities that Somalia and the EAC’s institutions and organs should carry out together will be included in the roadmap.

The Eala General Purpose Committee desires that Somalia’s integration process be carried out in tandem with the still-regressing integration processes of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The organs and institutions are integrating Somalia into the EAC in a disjointed manner, without a comprehensive roadmap to guide the process, even though the Committee recognizes the urgency of doing so,” Mr. Mukulia stated.

It was observed that although joining the Community prior to Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had not yet achieved full integration. The Committee suggests that the Assembly press the Council of Ministers to create a thorough plan for the complete integration of Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.

The Eala MPs further suggested that the integration process account for the contributions made to the EAC budget by each of the partner states.

“The Committee additionally suggests that the Assembly decides that the execution of this roadmap will depend on the concerned partner states honoring their monetary contributions to the Community,” the statement read.