Effectiveness of The East African Community Common Market Protocol on South Sudan’s Regional Trade Performance

Abstract

This study situates South Sudan’s unique post-conflict context within the broader framework of regional integration, offering a nuanced examination of how the Common Market Protocol (CMP) interacts with the country’s structural constraints. While South Sudan’s accession to the CMP in 2016 presented a strategic opportunity for economic integration, the nation’s persistent challenges, including fragile state institutions, underdevelopment, and ongoing conflicts, raise critical questions about the protocol’s effectiveness in fostering meaningful trade growth. Therefore, this study sought to assess the effectiveness of the CMP on South Sudan’s regional trade performance 2016-2024. It was guided by the following objectives; to analyse the impact of the CMP on South Sudan's East African import and export balance, evaluate the influence of the CMP on trade-related infrastructure and logistics in South Sudan and examine the effects of the CMP on trade volume between South Sudan and other EAC member countries. The study was informed by the Regional Integration and the Institutional Theories. A mixed method research design was adopted for the study which incorporated the descriptive cross sectional and case study research design. Purposive and Convenient sampling were used to derive a sample of 78 respondents. Further, both primary and secondary data were utilised in this study. Primary data was collected through interviews and questionnaires, whereas the analysis of documents such as government documentaries, journals, newspapers, annual reports, conferences papers, published surveys, and other unpublished and published resources pertaining to the study topic yielded secondary data. Data analysis was carried out both quantitatively and qualitatively using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis respectively. This study established that the East African Community Common Market Protocol has not significantly improved South Sudan’s trade performance. Imports from EAC partners consistently and substantially outweighed exports, leaving the country in a persistent regional trade deficit. While the Protocol created duty-free market access, South Sudan’s narrow export base, dominated by oil, prevented it from leveraging these opportunities. Infrastructure and logistical barriers, particularly poor roads, inadequate border facilities, and costly transport corridors, continue to hinder competitiveness and raise the costs of both imports and exports. Furthermore, trade volumes with EAC partners have remained minimal, reflecting weak productive capacity, widespread non-tariff barriers, and administrative inefficiencies. This study concluded that the CMP in its current form has not translated into tangible gains for South Sudan, largely due to structural and institutional limitations. The country has therefore benefited only marginally from regional integration, with most gains accruing to more developed partner states. The study recommends that South Sudan and regional stakeholders prioritize export diversification, infrastructure development, and institutional reforms to unlock the potential of the CMP. Strengthening customs processes, reducing non-tariff barriers, and promoting investment in productive sectors are essential steps toward ensuring that South Sudan benefits equitably from EAC integration.