East African Community

East African Community Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki  (Swahili)
Flag Emblem
Motto: "One People One Destiny"
Anthem: EAC Anthem
An orthographic projection of the world, highlighting the East African Community's Member States (green).
Headquarters	Arusha 3°22′S 36°41′E / 3.367°S 36.683°E / -3.367; 36.683
Largest city	Dar es Salaam
Official languages	English
Lingua Franca	Kiswahili (Swahili)
Demonym	East African
Type	Intergovernmental
Partner states	6 states  Burundi  Kenya  Rwanda  South Sudan  Tanzania  Uganda
Leaders
• Summit Chairperson	John Magufuli
• Council Chairperson	Augustine Mahiga
• EACJ President	Harold Nsekela
• EALA Speaker	Daniel Kidega
• Secretary General	Libérat Mfumukeko
Legislature	Legislative Assembly
Establishment
• First established	1967
• Dissolved	1977
• Re-established	7 July 2000
Area
• Total	2,467,202 km2 (952,592 sq mi) (10th a)
• Water (%)	4.9
Population
• 2016 estimate	168,848,000a (8th)
• Density	68.4/km2 (177.2/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	US$ 439.039 billion (42nda)
• Per capita	US$ 2,600 a
GDP (nominal)	2016 estimate
• Total	US$ 155.189 billion (57tha)
• Per capita	US$ 919 a
Currency	6 Currenciesb  To be replaced by the East African shilling Franc BIF Shilling KES Franc RWF Pound SSP Shilling TZS Shilling UGX
Time zone	CAT / EAT (UTC+2 / +3)
Website www.eac.int
If considered as a single entity. To be replaced by the East African shilling

The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation composed of six countries in the African Great Lakes region in eastern Africa: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. John Magufuli, the president of Tanzania, is the EAC's chairman. The organisation was founded in 1967, collapsed in 1977, and revived on 7 July 2000. In 2008, after negotiations with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the EAC agreed to an expanded free trade area including the member states of all three organizations. The EAC is an integral part of the African Economic Community.

The EAC is a potential precursor to the establishment of the East African Federation, a proposed federation of its members into a single sovereign state. In 2010, the EAC launched its own common market for goods, labour, and capital within the region, with the goal of creating a common currency and eventually a full political federation. In 2013, a protocol was signed outlining their plans for launching a monetary union within 10 years.

Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have cooperated with each other since the early 20th century. The customs union between Kenya and Uganda in 1917, which Tanganyika joined in 1927, was followed by the East African High Commission (EAHC) from 1948 to 1961, the East African Common Services Organization (EACSO) from 1961 to 1967, and the 1967 to 1977 EAC. Burundi and Rwanda joined the EAC on 6 July 2009.

Inter-territorial co-operation between the Kenya Colony, the Uganda Protectorate, and the Tanganyika Territory was formalised in 1948 by the EAHC. This provided a customs union, a common external tariff, currency, and postage. It also dealt with common services in transport and communications, research, and education. Following independence, these integrated activities were reconstituted and the EAHC was replaced by the EACSO, which many observers thought would lead to a political federation between the three territories. The new organisation ran into difficulties because of the lack of joint planning and fiscal policy, separate political policies, and Kenya's dominant economic position. In 1967, the EACSO was superseded by the EAC. This body aimed to strengthen the ties between the members through a common market, a common customs tariff, and a range of public services to achieve balanced economic growth within the region.