South Sudan has said it will expedite the ratification of the East Africa Community Treaty after it was admitted to become the sixth member of the economic bloc.

South Sudan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Barnabas Marial Benjamin said President Salva Kiir will sign the Treaty “at the earliest opportunity,” to pave the way for its ratification by South Sudan’s parliament.

South Sudan applied to become a member of the bloc in 2011 but it was only in October last year that the EAC Council of Ministers concluded that it had met the threshold to be a member.

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However, the ministers were divided on whether Juba should be admitted as a full member or as an observer. The interventions from presidents of member countries ahead of their Summit in Arusha last week favoured full membership.

The Summit also endorsed the start of a process to admit Somalia.  Although South Sudan has been given three years to fulfil all the conditions for accession, Dr Benjamin said this did not amount to a fast-track.

“There is no time that South Sudan will be 100 per cent ready but we will improve within the EAC family. Just like was the case with Rwanda and Burundi in 2007 when they were admitted, South Sudan will tackle the challenges with the help of the experienced partners in the EAC,” said Dr Benjamin. He said other EAC partners states will help the young country build its capacity in economy, trade and political stability.

Among the first benefits that Juba will enjoy, according to Dr Benjamin, is education where currently there are 40,000 South Sudanese students studying in Uganda and 30,000 in Kenya. The membership will also open doors for educated South Sudanese to seek opportunities in other EAC states.