Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

  • Current Member States
  • Former Member States

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (English Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, French Marché commun de l' Afrique orientale et australe, Portuguese Mercado Comum da África Oriental e Austral ) short COMESA - is a regional organization based in the Zambian Lusaka. The aim is to create a common market for the countries of eastern and southern Africa. It was formally established in 1994 as a successor to the existing 1981 Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa ( PTA).

Task

The main task of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa is located in the commercial area with the aim of creating a free trade area, which began on 31 October 2000 by nine Member States and now has 20 members, and a Customs Union by 2008.

Problems

There were multiple delays of tariff reductions and also skepticism as to proceed with COMESA. However, it is possible COMESA promote its aims, although there are problems again and again because of the diversity of members and geographical distances. Another problem is the overlap with other organizations with similar goals. Thus, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland also belong to the Southern African Development Community. Tanzania has left the COMESA also to avoid this overlap. South Africa had no interest in membership due to other contracts.

Current Member States

  • Egypt Egypt ( since 6 January 1999)
  • Ethiopia Ethiopia ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Burundi Burundi ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Djibouti Djibouti ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Eritrea Eritrea ( since 1994)
  • Kenya ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Comoros Comoros ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Libya Libya ( since June 2005)
  • Madagascar Madagascar ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Malawi Malawi ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Mauritania Mauritania ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Rwanda Rwanda ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Zambia Zambia ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Seychelles Seychelles ( since 2001)
  • Zimbabwe Zimbabwe ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Sudan Sudan ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Sudan South Sudan ( since 2011 )
  • Swaziland Swaziland ( since 21 December 1981)
  • Uganda Uganda ( since 21 December 1981)

Former Member States

  • Lesotho Lesotho (until 1997)
  • Mozambique Mozambique (until 1997)
  • Tanzania Tanzania (until 2000)
  • Namibia Namibia (until 2004)
  • Angola Angola (until 2007)
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