20^TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA; PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA; PRESIDENT DR. JOHN POMBE JOSEPH MAGUFULI OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA; H. E. GASTON SINDIMWO, 1^ST VICE PRESIDENT, REPRESENTING PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI; AND HON. PAUL MOYOM AKEC, MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND EAC AFFAIRS REPRESENTING PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN; HELD THE 20^TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE AT THE ARUSHA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, IN THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, ON 1^ST FEBRUARY, 2019. THE HEADS OF STATE MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS COVERING THE PERIOD 23^RD FEBRUARY, 2018 TO 31^ST JANUARY, 2019 AND COMMENDED THE COUNCIL FOR THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED A REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PREVIOUS DIRECTIVES AND DECISIONS OF THE SUMMIT AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT ALL OUTSTANDING DIRECTIVES AND DECISIONS AND REPORT TO THE 21^ST

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF RATIFICATION OF PROTOCOLS AND DIRECTED PARTNER STATES TO RATIFY ALL OUTSTANDING PROTOCOLS AND THE COUNCIL TO REPORT TO THE 21^ST

THE SUMMIT NOTED THE STATUS OF RESOLUTION OF LONG OUTSTANDING NON-TARIFF BARRIERS AND DIRECTED PARTNER STATES AND THE COUNCIL TO RESOLVE THEM.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT OF THE COUNCIL THAT ALL PARTNER STATES HAD NOMINATED CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERTS TO WORK ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE POLITICAL CONFEDERATION. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO CAUSE THE EXPERTS TO PROVIDE A PRELIMINARY REPORT WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS. THE SUMMIT DECIDED THAT PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI SHALL PROVIDE POLITICAL GUIDANCE TO THE EXERCISE.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE EAST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (EADB) CHARTER TO STREAMLINE IT INTO THE EAC MAINSTREAM. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.

THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED A REPORT ON THE ROADMAP FOR THE ACCELERATED INTEGRATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN INTO THE EAC AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO CONCLUDE THE PROCESS.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROGRESS REPORT THAT THE VERIFICATION EXERCISE FOR THE ADMISSION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA INTO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HAD NOT BEEN UNDERTAKEN. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO FOLLOW UP ON THE MATTER AND REPORT TO THE 21^ST

THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED A REPORT ON THE MODALITIES FOR THE PROMOTION OF MOTOR VEHICLE ASSEMBLY IN THE REGION AIMED AT REDUCING THE IMPORTATION OF USED MOTOR VEHICLES FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO FOLLOW UP THE MATTER AND REPORT TO THE 21^ST

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE TEXTILE AND LEATHER SECTOR IN EAST AFRICA WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOPING A STRONG AND COMPETITIVE SECTOR THAT GIVES CONSUMERS BETTER CHOICES THAN IMPORTED TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO CONCLUDE THE MATTER AND REPORT TO THE 21^ST

THE SUMMIT RECALLED ITS DIRECTIVE OF HAVING TWO DEPUTY SECRETARIES GENERAL AT THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY RECRUITED COMPETITIVELY ON A ROTATIONAL BASIS AND DECIDED THAT THE DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FROM THE UNITED REPUPLIC OF TANZANIA AND THE DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FROM THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA SHALL SERVE THEIR RESPECTIVE TWO TERMS IN OFFICE.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROGRESS REPORT FROM H.E. PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI, ON THE EU-EAC ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPA) AND DECIDED THAT THE EAC ENGAGES THE EU ON THE MATTER IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS TO GET MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE PERTINENT ISSUES OF CONCERN. THEREAFTER, PARTNER STATES WHO WISH TO, MAY OR MAY NOT SIGN THE EPA.

THE SUMMIT ASSENTED TO THE EAC OATHS BILL, 2018; THE EAC MONETARY INSTITUTE BILL, 2018; AND THE EAC SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL, 2018.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND DIRECTED PARTNER STATES TO FULFILL THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THE SUMMIT ENDORSED THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA’S CANDIDATURE FOR THE NON-PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC) FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM FOR THE PERIOD 2021-2022.

THE SUMMIT, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 24 (1) OF THE TREATY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY, APPOINTED HON. LADY JUSTICE SAUDA MJASIRI AS JUDGE TO THE APPELLATE DIVISION OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE WITH EFFECT FROM 13^TH FEBRUARY, 2019. THE HONOURABLE LADY JUSTICE SAUDA MJASIRI REPLACES HON. JUSTICE EDWARD M. K. RUTAKANGWA WHO WILL BE RETIRING ON 12^TH FEBRUARY, 2019. THE SUMMIT COMMENDED HON. JUSTICE EDWARD M. K. RUTAKANGWA FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE SUMMIT PRESENTED AWARDS TO THE WINNERS OF THE EAC STUDENTS ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION, 2017 AND 2018 EDITIONS RESPECTIVELY.

THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL WITHIN THREE MONTHS TO REVIEW THE RELEVANT POLICIES AND HARMONISE THE FRAMEWORK FOR IMPORTATION OF GOODS INTO THE EAC WITH A VIEW TO SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI HANDED OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME. THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TOOK OVER AS RAPPORTEUR FROM THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA. THE SUMMIT THANKED HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI FOR ABLY STEERING THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMMUNITY DURING HIS TENURE.

THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT FROM THE FACILITATOR OF THE INTER-BURUNDI DIALOGUE HIS EXCELLENCY BENJAMIN MKAPA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA. THE SUMMIT THANKED THE FACILITATOR FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DIALOGUE DURING HIS TENURE. THE SUMMIT DECIDED TO CONSULT FURTHER ON THE INTER-BURUNDI DIALOGUE PROCESS.

THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA; PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA; H. E. GASTON SINDIMWO 1^ST VICE PRESIDENT REPRESENTING PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI AND; HON. PAUL MOYOM AKEC MINISTER OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND EAC AFFAIRS REPRESENTING PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH, THANKED THEIR HOST, PRESIDENT DR. JOHN POMBE JOSEPH MAGUFULI, OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, FOR THE WARM HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN ARUSHA.

DONE AT ARUSHA, THIS 1^ST DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2019.