Good Governance Key to Regional Integration in East Africa
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 11th October, 2017:
Good governance is an important ingredient for the success of regional integration in East African Community.
Dr. Susan Kolimba, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in the United Republic of Tanzania, said that good governance in the EAC Partner States would lessen the possibility of instability in the region thereby ensuring peace and security which are the cornerstones of socio-economic development in the region.
Dr. Kolimba said that there was a need to address governance challenges which lie at the core of whatever efforts are deployed to promote the integration agenda, whether at the national, regional or continental levels.
“The challenge to us all is how best we can collectively address governance challenges that confront our region in a manner that responds to the opportunities that surround us,” said the Minister.
Dr. Kolimba further urged EAC Partner States to iron out contentious issues and finalize the Protocol on Good Governance as a framework for good governance in the EAC.
Dr. Kolimba was officially opening the 6th Annual Conference on Good Governance at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The two-day conference themed “Strengthening Democracy for Sustainable Integration” brings together national agencies/institutions responsible for human rights, anti-corruption efforts, electoral processes, judicial processes and legislatures.
On the convening of sessions of the East African Legislative Assembly, Dr. Kolimba told a media briefing held after the official opening that the Assembly would convene once the Kenya National Assembly had finalized the election of MPs to represent the country in the regional Parliament.
Addressing the conference, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, said that while economic integration was a priority, it would not by itself be sufficient to enable the region to consolidate the gains and ensure mechanisms for equitable distribution of benefits.
“We need to look beyond economic integration for us to move towards the ultimate goal of our integration process – the Political Federation. Also we must realize that the East African Political Federation will not be an event but a process, and not an end in itself but a means to an end,” said Mr. Njoroge.
Mr. Njoroge noted that a number of the escalating violent conflicts and political instability in African countries were the product of undemocratic practices and good governance deficits.
“The resultant challenges thus far have had negative implications to achieving human security, reducing poverty and realizing other general human development. In the East African region in particular, countries have adopted different approaches to address violence and civil unrest mostly through judicial and security sector reforms,” said the DSG.
Also present at the official opening was the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Emannuel Ugirashebuja.
- 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.
Tags: Political Federation