DOI: 10.7256/2454-0641.2018.4.26059

Abstract: The subject of research in this article is the East African Community (EAC). To date, the Community is represented by six countries: Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. The focus of the article is on determining the trend of both economic and political integration after the countries gained state sovereignty. Also, emphasis was placed on the intensity of this tendency manifestation at different stages of the evolution of the commonwealth and the prospect of achieving the political unity of these countries within the borders of a federal state. Based on the principle of historicism and using the method of historical reconstruction, the author identifies the main determinants of integration processes in East Africa. The author also identifies factors hindering the formation of a federation and the formation of a new subject of international law in this region. The application of this method allowed to make a valid conclusion that the formation of a sovereign federal state based on the existing regional economic alliance (EAC) will be hampered, first of all, by the currently manifested and potential tribal and religious conflicts in East African countries. Also, the formation of a federal state is hampered by sociocultural, primarily linguistic heterogeneity and insatiable ambitions of the heads of state and political elites.  

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0617.2017.4.24947

Abstract: The focus of attention is the East African Community (EAC). This economic association of East African countries today includes the following countries: Burundi, the Rwanda Republic, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan. The author makes an effort to outline the trends in the economical and political integration of the EAC member countries after they achieved state sovereignty. Accent is made on how intense these trends are on various stages of the evolution of EAC and its potential to achieve a political unity between its member states within the respective borders of a federal state. Basing on the principle of historism and employing the method of historical reconstruction the author outlines the main determinants of the integration processes in East Africa. The author also points out the factors that counteract the formation of a federation and the emergence of a new subject of International Law in this region. Employing said methods allowed the author to make a substantiated conclusion that the formation of a sovereign federal state, based on the existing regional economic alliance (EAC), is impeded by the recently-emerged and potential tribal and religious conflict in East African countries. Social, cultural and linguistical diversity and growing ambition of the heads of state and the political elites.