The Democratic Republic of Congo has applied to join the East African Community (EAC), President Felix Tshisekedi has confirmed on a trip to Tanzania.
The East African regional bloc currently has six members: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan. It is working towards free trade between its members and free movement of people.
Mr Tshisekedi said he had already written a letter to the EAC chairman, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, expressing interest in membership.
He also said that he believed membership would bring in more economic opportunities and would help secure peace in his country.
‘’We want to join this bloc so as we can stabilise this part of Africa and work together for the better,’’ he said on a visit to Dar es Salaam's port.
DR Congo's government is currently facing insecurity in several parts of the country, including in the east, where there is an Ebola outbreak.