Free visa entry for South Sudanese into EAC not yet ‘implemented’: Official

[Elisabeth Janaina]

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Free visa entry for South Sudanese into EAC not yet ‘implemented’: Official

JUBA (21 Mar.)

South Sudanese citizens will still pay entry fees to East African nations because the government has not yet paid the required membership fee which is $ 8 million, a top diplomat said.

East African heads of state agreed to admit South Sudan as its sixth member state in November last year during a summit in Tanzania.

The East African Community (EAC) is a group of nations that cooperates in the areas of trade, travel, tourism and harmonization of tax regimes and other regulations. It includes Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Mawien Makol Ariik, the Spokesman of South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “the payment of the money is in process, the money has been calculated and some of it will be paid now and when our economic situation improves, we will pay the remaining balance.” 

Makol claimed South Sudan will benefit from the expertise of East African countries especially in economic development, health and education.

Last week, President Salva Kiir issued a decree appointing seven members of parliament as representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly to fulfil South Sudan obligations of becoming a full member of the East African Community (EAC).