The Promise of East Africa
August 12, 2023

A new nation is born: the East African Federation (EAF), led by a Federation Council. The EAF is comprised of six nations in East Africa--Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. The African continent has been plagued by civil strife and war, with approximately half of the country currently facing armed conflict. What the leaders of the aforementioned states seek to accomplish is lasting peace, at least for eastern Africa.

There remain, however, hurdles in that goal. Somalia is still fighting a war against the Islamic extremists since before 2020, Ethiopia is engaged in a deadlock with the Tigray Defense Forces, and Sudan recently collapsed into a civil war.

But for now, the citizenry of at least some African states can breathe a sigh of relief as the new federation has the military experience of Rwanda and the economic power of Kenya and Uganda to resist any foe that might emerge.

Some have wondered why Rwanda, with its traditional position of being fiercely independent (and being responsible for not just one Congo war but two), would join the federation. Paul Kagame must have seen the writing on the wall to make the decision to join with his neighbors rather than face the future alone.

Nippon has already begun altering the flags and names in its Dar-es-Salaam embassy to that of the EAF.