The Democratic Republic of Congo formally completed its entry into the East African Community (EAC) on Monday after depositing instruments of ratification on the accession of the bloc's treaty.

The documents were availed by DR Congo's Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen'Apala, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

"Today is a very significant day for the Community and for the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Secretary General receives the Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty of Accession by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community," Mathuki said at the handover ceremony.

The DR Congo formally joined the EAC as its seventh member in April after the signing of the Treaty of the Accession of the DR Congo into the EAC in Nairobi, Kenya.

The entry of the DR Congo increases the bloc's combined GDP by 22 percent and geographical area by 79 percent.

With its entry into the EAC, the DR Congo can now fully participate in all the bloc's programs and activities and also join various areas of cooperation.