ˌɔn fˈoːɹtiːn mˈeɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ, ðɪ ˈiːst ˈæfɹɪkən kəmjˈuːnᵻɾi mˌiːdɪˈeɪʃən ɐɡɹˈiːmənt wʌz sˈaɪnd, wˌɪtʃ plˈɛdʒd tuː "ɛksplˈoːɹ ænd aɪdˈɛntᵻfˌaɪ ˈɛɹiəz fɔːɹ fjˈuːtʃɚ kˈoʊˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃən ænd tə mˌeɪk ɚɹˈeɪndʒmənts fɔːɹ sˈʌtʃ kˈoʊˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃən".
On 14 May 1984, the East African Community Mediation Agreement was signed, which pledged to "explore and identify areas for future co-operation and to make arrangements for such co-operation".