AKANSASIRA JUNIOR VICTOR: Advancing the East African Community Toward the Africa We Want by 2035. Are we ready yet?

For East Africa to succeed, we must deepen integration, remove barriers, and build an economy that produces what we consume and exports value to the world.”* Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Twenty-eight years ago, the vision of a united and prosperous East Africa was still largely aspirational, shaped by the ideals of Pan-African pioneers such as Kwame Nkrumah, who warned that *“Africa must unite or perish.”

Today, that vision stands at a decisive moment. The East African Community (EAC), once a fragile regional bloc, has evolved into one of Africa’s most strategic economic and political platforms. Yet the lingering question remains: will East Africa fully integrate into a unified force, or remain constrained by fragmentation?

Recent economic trends suggest a region on the rise. In the second quarter of 2025, EAC trade reached $38.2 billion, marking a 28.4% increase and demonstrating resilience in an increasingly uncertain global economy. More significantly, the region recorded a $0.8 billion trade surplus in early 2025, reversing a $4.0 billion deficit from the previous year, largely driven by a remarkable 47.3% growth in exports.

These gains reflect growing economic momentum and the potential of regional markets to transform livelihoods.

However, beneath this progress lies a structural imbalance that cannot be ignored. Intra-EAC trade remains between 12% and 15%, far below the 40% target envisioned by policymakers. This raises a critical question: why does East Africa trade more with distant partners than with itself?

The answer lies in limited industrialization, low value addition, and persistent non-tariff barriers. Without addressing these bottlenecks, the region risks exporting raw potential while importing finished dependency.

Historically, regional integration has always depended on strong institutions. Today, the East African Legislative Assembly stands at the center of this transformation.

It must move beyond routine legislation and embrace a more assertive role—harmonizing policies, enforcing the Common Market Protocol, and strengthening oversight on corruption and inefficiency.

With over 60% of East Africa’s population under the age of 30, legislative frameworks must prioritize youth empowerment, innovation, and enterprise. Failure to do so risks turning a demographic dividend into a demographic crisis.

Infrastructure development has equally shaped the trajectory of regional growth. While significant investments have been made in roads, railways, and energy, the cost of transport and logistics—estimated at 30–40% of product value—remains a major constraint.

How can integration succeed when goods cannot move efficiently across borders? The answer lies in accelerating regional connectivity, modernizing transport corridors, and investing in digital infrastructure that bridges physical and economic distances.

At the same time, the region must navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Conflicts in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, instability in Sudan and Somalia, alongside global tensions such as the Iran–United States tensions and the Russia–Ukraine war, underscore a critical lesson: fragmentation breeds vulnerability. For East Africa, peace and security are not optional—they are foundational pillars of integration. The EAC must therefore strengthen collective security mechanisms and proactive diplomacy to safeguard regional stability.

Looking ahead, the vision of the “Africa We Want,” as articulated in the African Union Agenda 2063, provides a clear roadmap. For East Africa, this translates into increasing intra-regional trade to at least 40%, expanding access to affordable energy, and building a competitive digital economy. Most importantly, it requires repositioning the youth—not as job seekers, but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and drivers of transformation. The region’s future will depend on how effectively it harnesses this demographic power.

Integration, therefore, is not a choice—it is a necessity. The warnings of history remain relevant today. A fragmented East Africa will struggle to compete in a globalized world, while a united region can emerge as a powerful economic and political bloc. The success stories of other regions demonstrate that unity accelerates growth, enhances resilience, and strengthens global influence.

In this context, leaders such as Yoweri Kaguta Museveni continue to play a significant role in shaping the regional agenda. His long-standing advocacy for Pan-Africanism, regional security, and economic self-sufficiency aligns with the broader vision of EAC integration. Uganda’s emphasis on value addition and industrialization reflects a strategic direction that, if replicated across the region, could drive sustainable transformation.

Ultimately, the East African Community stands at a defining crossroads. The foundations for success—strong economic growth, a youthful population, and expanding trade—are already in place. Yet persistent challenges, including infrastructure deficits, political fragmentation, low intra-regional trade, and youth unemployment, must be urgently addressed. The question is no longer whether East Africa has potential, but whether it has the resolve to act.

The next decade will determine whether the EAC becomes the engine of Africa’s transformation or remains a promise unfulfilled.

Akansasira Junior Victor,

Writer and Researcher,

vj.akansasira@gmail.com

1. +256702969211

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