Intégration de la République Démocratique du Congo à la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est : Traité, domaines de coopération, défis et perspectives

Abstract

In the quest for solutions to its persistent instability and the economic and social crisis, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is engaged in a regional integration process that challenges the idea of the African Economic Community. After joining the East African Community (EAC), the country is now part of four regional economic communities and several other regional trade agreements. Its geographical proximity to the EAC countries, their common historical links as well as the significant economic dependence of its eastern part on the EAC countries fuel its ambition to integrate it in order to benefit from its common market. While this integration is desired by all EAC member countries, experts still question its viability as it could disclose the economic fragility of a resource rich but unstable and poorly industrialized country. This paper seeks not only to highlight the particularities of the EAC and the rationale for the integration of the DR Congo, but also to outline some preconditions for the latter’s successful integration.