East African Community

East African CommunityPolitics & Policy

US reviews Tanzania ties after election violence

The United States has said it is conducting a comprehensive review of its relationship with Tanzania, citing concerns over religious freedom violations, speech restrictions, and violence surrounding October's disputed elections
A defaced campaign poster of Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, during the protests that followed her controversial re-election with an overwhelming majority of 98% in early November 2025
East African CommunityPolitics & Policy

Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan is as repressive as John Magufuli, her predecessor

President Samia Hassan, who is seeking re-election this month, increasingly resembles her predecessor John Magufuli, who banned media, censored journalists, stifled the opposition and rigged elections before his death in 2021
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania inspecting the the guard of honour in during a state visit to South Africa in March 2023
East African CommunityPolitics & Policy

DRC’s latest peace deal is unravelling, and it isn’t the first. What is going wrong?

Despite almost three decades of peace efforts and interventions at local, regional and international levels, the mineral-rich east of the country remains unstable
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame meets with President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo Ahead of the 74th UN General Assembly, 24 September 2019
East African CommunityPolitics & Policy

Open borders in East Africa: great strides, but still a long way to go

Compared to the rest of Africa, East Africa has made greater strides towards facilitating the free movement of people across borders in search of work
People crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Bunagana, in the south-west of Uganda.
East African CommunityPolitics & Policy

Will the US-brokered deal between Rwanda and DRC will pave the way for peace?

Any peace efforts must acknowledge the political nature of the crisis in eastern DRC, including the consequences of the failed power-sharing agreement between Kabila and Tshisekedi
Five men wearing combat fatigues and carrying guns
East African CommunityPolitics & Policy

What are the chances of success for the US-brokered peace deal signed by DRC and Rwanda?

On 27 June 2025, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed a new peace agreement under the auspices of the United States
Trump Rwanda Democratic Republic of Congo ministers
East African CommunityOpinionPolitics & Policy

DRC elections: three factors that have shaped Tshisekedi’s rocky first term

While Tshisekedi can claim some successes, including the DRC's accession to the EAC and modest economic growth, much remains to be done to improve the lives of Congo's people
Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, speaks at the naming and inauguration of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Research Station in Bukavu, DRC, 8 October 2019.
East African Community

Somalia’s accession to the EAC: has it been too far, too fast?

The depth of Somalia's security problems raises critical questions about the EAC's willingness and ability to ensure peace, security, and regional stability
Hassan Mohamud, President of Somalia, speaks at the 23rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community