EAC Common Market

The Academic Forum is an inclusive and accessible forum that brings together undergraduate and graduate students as well as early career researchers from across the world interested in international economic law issues as they relate to Africa and the Global South.

This article makes a case for the strengthening of the East African Community (EAC) by member-states in order to harness the immense trade benefits created by the EAC Customs Protocol. The article also advocates for the design of a protocol on 'shared competence' among member-states, as this will be necessary to boost trade relations with third parties.

Despite the existing EAC legislation, citizens continue to face challenges to movement of goods and persons across the borders. The ability of EAC citizens to enforce these trade commitments has been grossly underused, and such disputes have been referred to diplomatic means for resolution. It can only be hoped that moving forward, more persons will seek legal redress for such disputes.