The East African Community or EAC will take a decision on South Sudan’s application to join the Community in April next year.
South Sudan applied to join the EAC bloc shortly after attaining independence from Sudan in July 2011.
The EAC secretary-general said a team had been formed to assess South Sudan’s application.
The East African Treaty requires that members accept the “community as set out in the treaty; adhere to good governance, democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights”.