The East African Community: a treaty signed in 1999, in force from 2000, with its seat at Arusha
Background
Kenya is a Partner State of the East African Community. Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania are Partner States with it, and South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia joined later, so the Community now has eight Partner States.
The Community's headquarters is at Arusha in Tanzania.
The Treaty establishing the East African Community was signed on 30 November 1999 and entered into force on 7 July 2000, after ratification by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Rwanda and Burundi acceded on 18 June 2007 and became full members on 1 July 2007.
For the five original Partner States the African Union records a land area of 1.85 million square kilometres and a population of 120 million.
Two of Kenya's land neighbours, Uganda and Tanzania, are founding Partner States of the Community with it.
In plain words
EAC East African Community — A regional economic community of eastern African states with its seat at Arusha.
Partner State Partner State — The term the East African Community uses for its member countries.