(JUBA) – The East African Community’s Common Market Protocol (CMP), a key pillar of regional integration launched in 2010, has reached its 15 year mark, marked by mixed progress and growing concerns about implementation gaps. The CMP was established to allow the free movement of goods, services, labour and capital across member states, and grant rights of residence and establishment. It is one of the four core pillars of the EAC integration framework, alongside the Customs Union, Monetary Union and Political Federation.
Beatrice Askul, the chair of the EAC Council of Ministers and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, said the protocol has played a significant role in easing the flow of trade and labour across the region.
“The Common Market has been instrumental in facilitating free movement of goods, services, labour and capital,” she said.
A single customs territory, implemented under the broader Customs Union framework that began in 2005, helped reduce the number of non tariff barriers (NTBs) from 254 at inception to below 50 by May 2025. However, a recent spike in NTBs, which rose from 10 in November 2024 to 48 by May 2025, has alarmed policymakers. Intra-EAC trade also dropped from 16 percent to 14 percent, highlighting challenges in implementation.
Kennedy Mukulia, chairperson of the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges at the East African Legislative Assembly, pointed to the lagging enforcement of key protocol provisions.
“Despite the vision, implementation has lagged, NTBs persist,” he said. He specifically highlighted the lack of progress on Article 24 of the Protocol, which mandates the formation of a Trade Remedies Committee to resolve disputes.
The CMP mandates liberalisation of seven service sectors: business, communication, distribution, education, financial services, tourism and transport. Across the EAC, services now dominate national economies. In Kenya, they account for 55.5% of GDP; in Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, they contribute more than 40%; and in Tanzania, 28.9%, according to the 2024 East African Business Council report.
South Sudan, however, stands out for its heavy reliance on service exports, which account for 63% of its GDP, according to a 2024 report by the International Trade Centre (ITC). This is significantly higher than the EAC average, where services trade contributes less than 15% to most member states’ GDP.
| Country | Services Share of GDP | Share of Workforce in Services |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 55.5% | 55.1% |
| Uganda | 40%+ | – |
| Rwanda | 40%+ | – |
| Burundi | 40%+ | – |
| Tanzania | 28.9% | – |
| South Sudan | 63% | – |
Adrian Njau, acting CEO of the East African Business Council, attributed service trade growth to tourism, finance, and ICT, especially in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
“Tourism and transport services alone account for more than 30 percent of total service exports in some countries,” he said. But he noted that regulatory fragmentation, poor digital infrastructure and market access restrictions hinder deeper integration.
To tackle such barriers, the EAC recently adopted a Revised Schedule of the Progressive Liberalisation of Trade in Services. This includes commitments from four partner states Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to allow temporary entry of professionals in five categories: contractual and independent service suppliers, business visitors, intra-corporate transfers and trainers. Tanzania excluded intra-corporate transfers and trainers from its commitments.
Yet, labour mobility remains uneven. Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have eliminated work permit fees for EAC citizens, but Tanzania still charges fees and Burundi has not yet fully embraced cross border labour freedom. Other constraints include divergent professional licensing regimes, accreditation challenges, and inconsistent business registration procedures. Legal, engineering and financial professionals continue to face difficulties operating across borders.
A notable incident involved the deportation of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua by Tanzanian authorities during a visit to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges. Such events raise questions about the political will behind the integration agenda.
Mukulia called for a review of national laws that conflict with regional commitments. “We must promote mutual recognition agreements to ensure that our professionals can work seamlessly across borders,” he said.
Despite setbacks, service exports from the region have increased from $14 billion in 2018 to $17.1 billion in 2022. Kenya remains the region’s leading services exporter, with Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania also showing steady growth.
Digital integration through the One Network Area (ONA) initiative has lowered regional mobile roaming charges, boosting interconnectivity. However, countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), newer entrants to the EAC, have not yet internalised the CMP or joined key initiatives like ONA.
Analysts warn that political appointments without technical expertise have slowed integration efforts. Critics argue that many EAC officials lack the knowledge or commitment needed to advance the CMP’s goals. In South Sudan, where services are increasingly vital for economic survival amid political instability, observers see regional integration as an opportunity, if properly implemented, to bring tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.
Stakeholders agree that while the vision remains valid, the journey ahead requires renewed commitment, policy reforms and a focus on removing remaining barriers to create a truly common market as the Common Market Protocol (CMP) turns 15.