Mechanism and other International Organizations based in Arusha welcome the public to the Arusha International Organizations Day

Posted in Press Release

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) and other international, regional and sub-regional organizations in Arusha, including the African Court for Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Institute of International Law; the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, the East African Community and its Organs and  Institutions, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute, and the Pan African Postal Union, will host the second Arusha International Organizations Open Day on Saturday, 3 November 2018.

Similar to last year, this year’s event will take place from 10:00 to 17:00 at the premises of the Mechanism at Lakilaki, Arusha, Tanzania.During the Open Day, the public will have the opportunity to listen to welcoming speeches from Mechanism Judge William H. Sekule, the Heads of the International Organizations, and from the guest of honour, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Hon. Dr. Augustine Mahiga, or his representative, as well as from the Regional Commissioner for Arusha and the Lord Mayor of the city of Arusha.

Following these speeches, there will be a variety of presentations through the course of the day at the courtroom and the stands of the respective international organizations.As part of the programme, presentations will be given by representatives of the Mechanism, including by Judge Sekule.

In addition, documentaries produced by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will be screened, including the documentaries entitled “Justice Today” and “The Path to Reconciliation.

The public will also have the opportunity to visit an exhibition at the library about the rich archives of the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

There will also be a medical team present to conduct free medical check-ups, as well as a children’s corner with activities for the younger visitors.

The Arusha International Organization’s Open Day is an annual event which aims to provide the general public with an opportunity to learn more about the mandate and functioning of the various international institutions based in Arusha. Snacks and refreshment will be served. 

Getting to the IRMCT

 The easiest way to get to the Mechanism by public transportation will be as follows:

Route 1: Njiro – Kijenge – City Center – Nairobi Road Junction – Lakilaki, Kisongo 
Pick-up Points 

i.        Arusha Institute of Accountancy
ii.        Impala Roundabout 
iii.        Clock Tower Roundabout 
iv.        Nairobi Road Junction – Lakilaki, Kisongo

Route 2: Sakina – Fortes – Majengo – Cultural Heritage – Lakilaki, Kisongo
Pick-up Points 

i.        Technical College 
ii.        Fortes 
iii.        Cultural Heritage – Lakilaki, Kisongo

Route 3: Kimandolu Cette Garden – Sanawari – Regional Commissioner’s Office – Benson Shop – Lakilaki, Kisongo
Pick-up Points 

i.        Kimandolu Cette Garden 
ii.        Phillips 
iii.        Sanawari 
iv.        Clock Tower Roundabout – Lakilaki, Kisongo

Route 4: Ngaramtoni ya juu – Majengo – Dodoma Road – Lakilaki, Kisongo
Pick-up Points 

i.        Ngaramtoni ya  juu 
ii.        Majengo 
iii.        Majengo/Dodoma Road junction

-ENDS-

For more Information Contact:

Saida Joy Kessy, 
External Relations,
 Arusha Branch, UN International  Residual  Mechanism  for Criminal Tribunals,
(Mechanism) IRMCT 
Haki Road, Plot No. 486 Block A, Lakilaki Area, Arumeru District, P.O. Box 6016,|Arusha, Tanzania |Office B-031,
Tel: +1 212 963 2850 Ext 5013 (via New York); 179-5013,
Direct: +255 27 256 5013/+255767466696 (international)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

5th and Final Round of Inter-Burundi Dialogue Begins

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 25^th October, 2018:The 5^th and Final Round of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue bringing together political parties and political actors in the Burundian conflict started today at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania.

Speaking at the opening session of the Dialogue, the Facilitator to the talks, retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, urged the participants to take advantage of the various roadmaps and come up with a roadmap that would incorporate basic principles for holding free and credible elections in 2020.

“Take note of the Kayanza Roadmap of 2018 and the Entebbe Roadmap of 2018 and the fact that the roadmaps are not consensual,” said President (Rtd) Mkapa.

The government and the ruling CNDD-FDD party came up with the Kayanza (II) 2018 Roadmap while the Entebbe 2018 Roadmap is a product of the country’s internal and external opposition groups.

President (Rtd) Mkapa said that his team would develop a roadmap based on the Kayanza Roadmap 2018 and the Roadmap that would be produced by the participants at the ongoing meeting.

The Facilitator expressed his displeasure at the failure by the government of Burundi to attend the 5^th and Final Dialogue even though invitations were sent out to participants for the Dialogue to be held from 19^th – 24^th October, 2018.

“The Government requested the Dialogue to be postponed to begin from 24^thOctober, 2018 onwards. The request was accepted and the Dialogue was scheduled to be held from 24^th – 29^th October, 2018,” he said.

The Facilitator disclosed that the Government requested again for the Dialogue to be postponed to November 2018, and asked the Facilitator to share beforehand the list of participants.

“The Government further proposed that the agenda of the Dialogue be discussions of the 2018 Kayanza Roadmap. The Facilitator could not accept such demands and excuses hence proceeded to arrange the Dialogue be held,” said President Mkapa.

“To date, there is no formal notification from the Government of Burundi on attendance,” he added. 

The Facilitator urged the participants to work on a consensual roadmap to be submitted to the Summit of EAC Heads of State for consideration.

The Facilitator disclosed that the 19^th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held in Kampala, Uganda on 23^rd February, 2018, expressly directed him to ensure “convergence and expeditiously conclude the Inter-Burundi Dialogue.”

He said that his intentions to expeditiously conclude the dialogue was affected by the Government of Burundi’s decision to postpone any activity related to the Dialogue until such time after the Referendum. The Referendum was held on 17^thMay, 2018 and the new Constitution of Burundi was promulgated on 17^th June, 2018.

After the promulgation of the Constitution, the Facilitator directed the Facilitation Team to consult with the Government of Burundi, political parties, the external opposition, civil society, youth, women, religious groups and media on the holding of the 5^th Session and the possible agenda.

After the consultations, the Facilitator arrived at the view that there was a general consensus amongst most stakeholders on the need to continue with the Inter-Burundi Dialogue under the auspices of the EAC, so as to provide a platform for the Barundi to discuss pending issues and prepare a roadmap for 2020 elections.

The Facilitation Team advised the participants to consider for thematic areas in coming up with a roadmap to the 2020 general election, namely: Political Issues; Electoral Issues; Socio-economic Issues, and; Security Issues.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Summit of EAC Heads of State in 2015 appointed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as the Mediator in the Burundian conflict. In 2016, the Summit also appointed retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa as the Facilitator to the Burundi Dialogue.

The Kayanza I Roadmap was a UN sponsored initiative that sought to tackle issues surrounding the 2015 general election. It brought together government and other stakeholders including the ruling party and opposition parties.

Kayanza II Roadmap is largely a roadmap by government and the ruling CNDD-FDD Party towards the 2020 election.

The internal and external opposition groups who were not party to Kayanza II roadmap met in Entebbe, Uganda in September 2018 and came up with the Entebbe Roadmap to the 2020 election in Burundi.

It is this documents that the Facilitator wants the participants in the 5^th Dialogue to combine into a common roadmap to the 2020 election that the Facilitator will present to the Summit of EAC Heads of State.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified