South Sudan officially inducted into the East African Community (EAC)

South Sudan has now gained full membership of the East African Community (EAC) on Monday since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

The country gained full and equal rights, obligations and privileges as an EAC member after it deposited the instruments of ratification on the Accession to the EAC Treaty at the bloc’s headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Depositing of instruments of ratification on the accession to the Treaty of the #EAC by the S. Sudan OworaR pic.twitter.com/jdJqveNEOI

— EAC Media Centre (eacmediacentre) September 5, 2016

The EAC Secretary General, Dr. Liberat Mfumukeko, congratulated South Sudan and President Salva Kiir for showing commitment to the bloc.

#EAC SG -commended the people of the of S.Sudan and President Salva Kiir 4 Depositing of instrument of ratification pic.twitter.com/kIAKC1FK5w

— EAC Media Centre (@eacmediacentre) September 5, 2016

President Salva Kiir will therefore be expected to attend the 17th Extra-Ordinary EAC Heads of State Summit in Tanzania on September 8, 2016.

Days of violence in the country between rival forces of President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader and recently relieved vice president Riek Machar have caused the displacement of thousands of people in the country.

The UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a protection force in addition to the troops already on the ground to protect the civilians and help stabilize the country.