East African Community leaders met in Arusha, Tanzania, from July 21 to 22, and took stock of where they stand when it comes to implementing the EAC Common Market Protocol, the second pillar of the bloc’s integration agenda.

The Protocol entered into force in July 2010, but over a decade later, the four freedoms – free movement of goods; labour; services; and capital – provided for in the Protocol, still lag. So much more could have been done to accelerate economic growth and development but regional states have been dragging their feet.

Despite belonging to a bloc that is now, arguably, Africa’s most integrated regional economic community, partner states failed to fully maintain a liberal stance towards the four freedoms of movement for all factors of production and two rights between themselves. The freedoms and rights include: free movement of persons; right of establishment; and right of residence.

Before Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta handed over EAC chairmanship to Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, the leaders deliberated on the vast opportunities available to the region under the Protocol and how to exploit them for the benefit of all countries.

The Kenyan leader and his counterparts agreed, among others, that infrastructure development was critical in attaining the region’s objective of being one big market stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. According to him, East Africa would only attain the Common Market if its citizens were able to communicate easily, and to move and ferry goods freely across the region.

There is no doubt that the leaders know how significantly the implementation of the Protocol would reduce the EAC’s economic dependence on the developed world. But for this to happen, the leaders must walk the talk. They must leave no stone unturned in a dedicated bid to realize EAC’s priorities including enhancing domestication and implementation of regional commitments in line with the EAC Common Market Protocol, and strengthening regional peace, security, and good governance.

When assuming EAC Chairmanship, Ndayishimiye said he would put emphasis on matters of peace and security.

After the Summit received an update on the Nairobi process on the DR Congo and, among others, appointed Kenyatta as facilitator to oversee the implementation of the Nairobi process, so much will depend on what the leaders do, not what they say.