President Salva Kiir who is also the head of East African Community travelled to Uganda on Friday to sign the instrument of the accession of the Federal Republic of Somalia into the regional bloc, his office said.

Both Kiir and Somalia’s Hassan Shiekh Mahmoud will sign the instrument of Accession, in an event that will be witnessed by one Head of State.

South Sudan assumed the chairmanship of the East African Community on November 24, 2023, at the Heads of State Summit in Arusha, Tanzania.

President Kiir took over from Burundi’s Evariste Ndayhimiye as the EAC Summit announced the admission of the Republic of Somalia as its 8th member-state.

Kiir will lead the trade bloc at a time when the region is confronted with numerous challenges including climate catastrophes, conflicts and the current global economic hardship.

Before Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia membership, South Sudan joined the bloc as its sixth member, in March 2016.