EAC
Monday, May 05, 2014
Arusha talks cement EAC belief
SUMMIT: Leaders renewed their commitment to implement full East African integration.
ARUSHA, Tanzania - The East African Heads of States have renewed their commitment to full integration during the 12th Extraordinary Summit held in Arusha, Tanzania last week.
The Summit was attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Burundi was represented by the First Vice President, Prosper Bazombaza while Prime Minister, Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, represented Rwanda.
In the Chair was President Kenyatta, who assured EAC citizens they have resolved to maintain the keenest focus on the crucial importance of the future of the EAC.
“Given the importance of our resolutions, I must urge each and every Partner State to play its role in ensuring that our resolutions are implemented for the common good of people of East Africa,” he said.
Kenyatta stressed their step-by-step resolutions in the Summit will be guided by the full interest of the people in the region. “As we continue to integrate, tie together our nations, our people and our markets – it is vital to involve the people of East Africa at every stage.” he said.
He said the Customs Union (CU) which was established in 2005 and the Common Market (CM) in 2010 are central pillars of the integration process. He highlighted the achievements made so far, but called on EAC member states to complete implementation of mutually agreed decisions within the set timelines.
Kenyatta said the conclusion of the protocol of Monetary Union (MU), which is the third pillar of the integration, carries with it enormous opportunities.
He reminded Community members to implement all the provisions. However, he cautioned them to work diligently to achieve a sustainable macro-economic convergence in terms of inflation, fiscal policies and exchange rate stability.
“The reward for our diligence is clear: if we can lay the foundation for a single currency in this region, the faster economic growth of the EAC is assured,” Kenyatta said.
Challenges of terrorism within and out of the EAC borders was also thoroughly discussed and a Communiqué that was read by the Secretary General, Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera stipulated the EAC Heads of States resolved to implement a common anti-terrorism strategy to combat terror and other transnational crimes in the Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes.
They jointly condemned the terror attacks that have targeted Kenya (Nairobi and Mombasa) and promised to undertake joint measures to make the region safer.
“There is no better place to send a firm message to the perpetrators of these vile crimes than a united gathering of our region’s distinguished leaders. I speak for all when I say that we will spare, neither resources, nor effort in bringing these criminals the firm justice they deserve,” Kenyatta said.
The Regional Counter Terrorism Strategy, which has been under discussion for some time, was adopted first by the EAC Council of Ministers before being endorsed by the Heads of State Summit.
Kenya Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie who is the current chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, said the strategy “addresses the critical matter of regional security in respect of which the preparation of an action plan must be expedited – given the growing magnitude of insecurity.”
The Summit wants security agencies in the five countries to increase the areas of cooperation to fight terrorism, insurgencies and transnational crimes.
According to a EAC Secretariat communiqué, the other business on the included the consideration for the admission of South Sudan in the EAC bloc, which has now been re-scheduled for October 2014. This is to pave the way for South Sudan to undertake a cohesive national preparation and consultation.
The EAC Heads of States called for the warring parties in South Sudan to end hostilities and abide by the cease fire agreements signed by both main parties to the conflict earlier this year.
In addition, the Summit also directed the Council of Ministers to study all feasible options available for EAC Sustainable Financing Mechanism; to consult further on EAC Constitutional Review; initiate a process of drafting a constitutional for the Political Federation and develop a road map on what the constitutional making process would involve.
In the meantime, three judges of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) were appointed and sworn in: Hon. Mr. Justice Edward M.K. Rutakangwa from Tanzania and Hon. Mr. Justice Aaron Ringera from Kenya were sworn in as the Judges of the appellate division. The two judges replace Hon. Mr. Justice Harold Reginald Nsekela, President of the Court and Hon. Mr. Justice Philip Kiptoo Tunoi, Vice-President of the Court.
Hon. Mr. Justice Fakihi A. Jundu from Tanzania was also sworn in as a judge in the first instance division, who replaces Hon. Mr. Justice John Joseph Mkwawa whose tenure ends on 27 June 2014.
The Summit also designated Hon. Mr. Justice Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, new President of the EACJ and Hon. Mr. Justice Liboire Nkurunzinza new Vice President of the EACJ while Dr. Enos S. Bukuku, Deputy SG tenure was extended for a final term of three years from April 19, 2014.
To end the day, the Summit unveiled a plaque at the EAC headquarters in memory of the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and all those who died opposing it. The Summit expressed their commitment to ensuring that such genocide and other crimes against humanity do not recur in the EAC region.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the EACJ Registrar, Prof. Dr. John Ruhangisa announced they are now going digital to ease work.
By Elisha Mayallah, Monday, May 05th, 2014