Regional Integration Setbacks and the Future of the East African Community Amid Internal Conflict

Background: The East African Community's expanded membership, including the controversial admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022 amid its ongoing internal conflict, has generated significant institutional strain as the regional body simultaneously pursues deeper economic integration and security mediation responsibilities through 2023 and 2024. Aims/objectives: This study examines how internal conflict involving a key member state has affected the East African Community's institutional cohesion and capacity to pursue its core economic integration mandate. Method: A qualitative analysis of East African Community summit communiqués, regional force deployment records, and interviews with regional integration specialists was conducted covering the period since the Democratic Republic of Congo's admission. Results: Findings indicate that security mediation responsibilities related to the eastern Congo conflict consumed disproportionate institutional attention and resources relative to the bloc's founding economic integration objectives, while member states' divergent interests regarding the conflict, including competing accusations of involvement, generated internal friction undermining collective decision-making processes. Conclusion: The research concludes that the absorption of a conflict-affected large member state has measurably strained the East African Community's institutional capacity and cohesion. Clearer institutional delineation between economic integration and security mediation functions is recommended to preserve the bloc's core developmental mandate amid expanding membership and responsibilities.

Keywords: East African Community, regional integration, Democratic Republic of Congo, institutional cohesion, regional security mediation