(KINSHASA) – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has fully integrated its customs data exchange system with the East African Community (EAC) Single Customs Territory, joining Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda on the centralised platform from 28 November 2025.
The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) said Kinshasa overcame challenges related to language and data exchange, developing a system to improve trade facilitation between EAC member states.
“The main challenge was integrating English and French into a single system for smooth information sharing. We have successfully addressed this and are happy to announce full integration before the end of this month,” said John Deng, NCTTCA Executive Director.
The authority facilitates transit cargo between the Kenyan Port of Mombasa and Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan. Integration of DRC’s system will enhance efficiency, reduce transit delays, improve revenue collection, and lower the risk of fraud.
South Sudan is also developing its customs system with $2.6 million (SSP 18 billion) support from the World Bank. The upgraded system aims to speed cargo documentation, cut queues at border posts and improve real-time data exchange between customs administrations.
The EAC Single Customs Territory, established in 2012, uses a destination model where goods are assessed and cleared at the first point of entry after taxes are paid in the destination country. Revenue officers from each member state are stationed at borders to process customs and clear goods destined for their country.
Integration requires interconnectivity of customs systems to allow real-time sharing of notifications between the first point of entry and the destination country. In 2021, a project was launched to centralise the platform to liberalise intra-regional trade, supporting mutually beneficial arrangements among partner states.
With DRC now integrated, Burundi, South Sudan and Somalia remain in different stages of internalising the protocols of both the Customs Union and the Common Market. Analysts say full integration across all member states is key to enhancing trade efficiency and reducing costs for businesses in the region.
EAC Centralised Customs Platform Expands
| Key Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| New Integration | DRC joins EAC Single Customs Platform from 28 Nov 2025 |
| EAC Members Already Integrated | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda |
| South Sudan Support | $2.6 million (SSP 18 billion) from World Bank |
| Main Benefits | Faster cargo transit, reduced queues, improved revenue collection, reduced fraud |
| Operational Model | Destination model: goods cleared at first entry point after taxes paid |
| Remaining Countries | Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia |
| Key Challenge Overcome | Language integration (English and French) |
| Authority Responsible | Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) |