Something interesting is happening in East Africa and not many people are talking about it. Uganda and South Sudan recently held a high-level meeting – not with their EAC partners, but with the Central African Republic (CAR), which isn’t part of the bloc.
The Kampala meeting seems like a win-win scenario. Improving roads between Kampala, Juba, and Bangui could open up trade, create jobs and boost regional ties. It’s good that they’ve also partnered with development organisations to fund the projects. Infrastructure like this is essential for any region aiming to grow.
However, what’s troubling is how this is happening outside the formal EAC framework. Uganda and South Sudan are both EAC members. So, why are they forming separate partnerships? Is this a sign that the Community isn’t working or slowly crumbling?
Over the years, regional leaders have talked a lot about integration, but progress has been slow. Overlapping memberships and inconsistent commitment have all taken their toll.
“When East African member states start forming smaller, informal parties to get things done, it sends an uncomfortable message…”
That the larger bloc is failing to meet its promises. It hints at a lack of cohesion or efficiency within the EAC, which can chip away at the trust that investors, development partners and other regional bodies – like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – place in it. Over time, this perception can run not just the EAC’s image but also the sense of shared purpose it was meant to foster among its people.
Involving the Central African Republic – which is part of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) – also shows a shift in direction. If East African members start looking in opposite directions for partners outside the framework of their own regional bloc, it could mean they are losing faith in their regional communities.
This isn’t new in Africa. Other blocs like ECOWAS and SADC have also faced similar pressure. But breaking away or forming side deals isn’t the answer. The EAC should take this as a warning. It needs to ask tough questions: Why are members drifting? Is it due to poor leadership? Or weak policy follow-through?
The Uganda–South Sudan–CAR alliance is a desperate step – but it’s also a wake-up call. The EAC must get serious about delivering real results. If not, it risks being left behind while its members find better partnerships that actually work for them.
Isaac Mwangi writes on social, political and economic issues in East Africa.
📩 Email: isaacmmwangi@gmail.com
