South Sudan will push for admission into the East African Community at the Heads of State Summit in two weeks time, despite having not met all the eligibility criteria.

Government officials argue that Juba has already opened its economy to EAC members though questions on governance, democracy, human rights and security linger.

Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who led a high level ministerial committee to the latest EAC session on South Sudan accession in mid-October, said that a technical committee had recommended that Juba “is now qualified” to join the bloc.

The EastAfrican was unable to independently verify this because the committee’s report is being kept under wraps until it is presented to the EAC Council of Ministers meeting in November 15.

“It is just like when Burundi and Rwanda were admitted in June 2007 while they had similar challenges, and managed to solve them from within,” said Dr Benjamin.

“We believe that South Sudan has a better chance of resolving its challenges faster and more effectively as a member of the EAC.”

In a briefing to parliament on October 26, the presidential advisor for economic affairs and co-chair of the High Level Committee on South Sudan Accession to the EAC, Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, said that the recommendations clearly state that there is a strong push by the ministers of EAC affairs for South Sudan to be admitted into the regional bloc within the shortest time possible.

“While the ultimate decision lies with the heads of state, they will almost certainly admit South Sudan to the regional bloc. As a result, a Treaty of Accession is being drafted for possible signing at the Summit of Heads of State on November 30,” Mr Sabuni told parliament.

According to Abubakar Ogle, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly said a membership of South Sudan will be welcome but the admission depends on the decision of the Summit.

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for EAC Affairs John Konchellah also said the final decision now rests with the heads of state.

Should South Sudan be admitted, its parliament will be required to approve the EAC Treaty, harmonise the country’s laws to those of EAC, streamline Customs, immigration and other key agencies to adopt EAC standards, and the government to implement EAC programmes and projects.

However, issues of governance remain a challenge with most institutions such as parliament and the Judiciary still struggling under the dominance of the executive. There is also the issue of South Sudan’s poor record in observing human rights and perennial conflicts.

John Andruga Duku, a former head of South Sudan mission in Nairobi, said EAC would be in a better position to help South Sudan improve on its human rights and democratic institutions from within.

“The EAC is the natural home for South Sudan and the membership will act as a peace dividend after the peace agreement, which will help the country build its capacity in the judiciary and democratic institution,” said Mr Duku.

Othieno Owora, the head of corporate communication and public affairs at the EAC said that expanding membership and welcoming new members is not only in line with the Abuja Treaty that calls for a united Africa but also the recently adopted continental integration agenda, called the African Union Agenda 2063.

South Sudan applied for EAC membership in 2011. After a series of negotiations, the November 2013 Heads of State Summit in Uganda recommended that South Sudan’s membership be fast-tracked to enable the country become a member by April 2014.

But a month later war broke out, sending the negotiation process into limbo. Serious negotiation and verification process picked up again in May 2015 till October.