A Member of Parliament in the National Legislative Assembly says South Sudan should not join the East African Community now.
During a State of the Nation Address last week, President Salva Kiir said South Sudan has fulfilled the requirements for becoming a member of the regional economic bloc, headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania.
Members of the community are: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda.
Bishop Gabriel Rorec, a senior Member of the National Congress Party, says South Sudan has not organized its internal issues and, therefore, should have applied for an observer status.
“We might not meet all the requirements. For example: economic situation of South Sudan may not from time to time meet the requirements which are needed by the East African Community,” Bishop Rorec argued.
“We are not really mature enough to meet the requirements of East African Community. So my advice would be, we go slowly.”
In previous calls on Eye Radio, some people also expressed fear that South Sudanese will not compete favorably with their counterparts in other countries if South Sudan joins the bloc.
In October, the East African Community issued a report indicating that South Sudan is qualified to join the economic bloc.
This report will be presented to the Heads of State Summit expected this November.