The Effects of the Rwanda-Uganda Conflict on the EAC Common Market (2017-2021)

Rwanda announced in January 2022 that they were reopening the Gatuna/Katuna border shared with Uganda that was close since February 2019. This border closure came as a result of an overt conflict between these two neighboring countries that started in 2017. Although this border closure came as a surprise to many Rwandans and Ugandans alike, it was not the first time that an EAC member took a unilateral decision to close its border to another EAC member state. This study investigated the effects of the Rwanda-Uganda conflict and the subsequent border closure on the EAC’s Common Market, focusing on the events between 2017 and 2021. Further, to explain this conflict and its effects on the EAC Common Market, this study used neo-functionalism and the security theory in the ‘New Regionalism’. Additionally, this study used primary and secondary data and, thus, in-depth interviews and documentary research to collect the data needed. Lastly, this study used thematic analysis to analyze the data. The findings of this study showed the impact this conflict mentioned above has had on the Rwanda-Uganda trade. The study also covered the effects of this conflict and the border closure on the EAC Common Market's four freedoms and finished by discussing the lessons that the EAC as an institution and the EAC partner states could learn from this conflict and the Gatuna/Katuna border closure. This study also found that this conflict between Rwanda and Uganda highlighted many shortcomings of the EAC organs, the EAC partner states, and the civil society in the regional integration agenda.