Tanzania, Dec. 28 -- Arusha. The verification procedure may begin shortly, but Somalia's admission to the East African Community (EAC) is likely to be difficult.

Although the Horn of Africa country may be on the verge of joining the union, issues about its eligibility remain.

The EAC secretary general, Peter Mathuki, recently stated that a team of senior EAC technocrats will fly to Mogadishu next month to begin the mission.

The verification duty comprises analysing the country's readiness to join the Community, which currently has seven partner states.

"A verification mission will be despatched to Mogadishu in January of next year," he said when addressing newly elected regional lawmakers.

This, Dr Mathuki stressed, was one of the ma...