Somalia Officially Joins the East African Community

Move seen as a beacon of hope for war-torn Somalia's economy, despite potential security concerns for the regional bloc.

Somalia has officially joined the East African Community (EAC), becoming the eighth member of the regional trade bloc.
The move is seen as a significant step for Somalia's economy, which has been devastated by decades of conflict.
Joining the EAC opens up a market of over 300 million people for Somalia, and provides the bloc with access to Somalia's 3,000km coastline and potential offshore resources.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential for increased security challenges within the EAC, due to ongoing conflict in Somalia with the jihadist group al-Shabab.
Despite these concerns, the admission of Somalia is seen as a pivotal leap in the EAC's expansion across East Africa.