Regulation of competition in East Africa by the East African Community Competition Authority

In a notice dated 1 July 2025, the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) announced that it will start receiving applications for approval of cross-border mergers and acquisitions from 1 November 2025. The requirement for approval of cross-border mergers by the EACCA is an additional regulatory layer that businesses will have to factor in as they plan for mergers and acquisitions. In this alert, we outline the background to the EACCA competition regime, the notification thresholds and possible effects on businesses seeking to explore cross-border mergers and acquisitions within the East African Community (EAC).