Browsing: EA trends

Sunset Frreepic

2020 Year ender: The year that was 

East Africa
When the year 2020 started, there was little time for countries across the globe to work on their plans, as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as soon as the year began. However, the effects of the virus were not felt until March devastating economies and leaving nothing to chance. East Africa has seen revision of economic growth as key indicators showed poor performance. Just like elsewhere globally, the stock markets dipped to extreme depths, national incomes from tourism and related economies returned their worst showing, and the health system was pushed beyond limits. 

However, it was not just the COVID-19 situation that devastated the region; poor agricultural production, locust infestation, floods and political tensions and elections have had a negative effect on the economy.  

With the ongoing La Nina phenomenon, rains across the regions have been delayed raising fears of inflation as food …

East African Trends: Pulling apart 

East Africa

The East African Community (EAC) has spent twenty years of integration and admitted new members in the process.  EAC Partner States signed the Protocol in November 2009, and it came into force on 1 July 2010. The common market is the first of its kind in Africa. The internal EAC market has about 146 million consumers. 

This second offering, after the initial community collapsed in 1977 has worked to learn from the mistakes of the past community. However, as things change, the more they have remained the same.  

There have been tensions between countries at different periods of time, some threatening the very core that set forth the community. Kenya has been at constant feud with Tanzania, Uganda has been also at loggerheads with Rwanda while Burundi has accused Rwanda of meddling in its affairs.  

Overall trade disputes are now increasing in East Africa.  Uganda’s trade …