EAC Permanent/Principal Secretaries and Officials from the Republic of South Sudan discuss integration of the new Partner State into EAC
A one-day high-level meeting between the Permanent/Principal Secretaries in charge of East African Community Affairs in the Partner States and officials from the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) is taking place in Kampala, Uganda.
The meeting is considering, among other things, capacity building and sensitization priorities for the RSS, projects/programme priorities for RSS, institutional inclusion of RSS into the Organs (EAC Secretariat, EALA, EACJ) and Institutions of the Community, and domestication and implementation by RSS of critical EAC instruments like passports, transit transport documentations, applicable standards in health, trade and civil aviation safety and security.
Addressing the meeting, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Mrs. Edith Mwanje, on behalf of the Chair of the EAC Coordination Committee, Amb Dr. Aziz P. Mlima, who is the PS in Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East African, Regional and International Cooperation, hailed RSS’s commitment to the integration process and the internal efforts towards restoration of peace, security and tranquility in the country.
“We are convinced that the meeting of today is a key catalyst to these efforts and will aid in the speeding up of the integration and participation of the Republic of South Sudan in the affairs and processes of the Community,” said Ms. Mwanje.
The leader of the RSS delegation, Hon. Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, who is also the Presidential Economic Advisor, commended the Permanent/Principal Secretaries for the efforts that led to the admission of RSS into the Community. He affirmed to the delegates that the situation in South Sudan was calm and things were being sorted out internally and appreciated the support the country was receiving from the region.
Addressing the delegates, the Secretary General of the EAC, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, said the meeting was being held pursuant to the implementation of a directive of the 17th Extra Ordinary Summit held in Dar es Salaam last month to agree on the priorities to underpin the development of a roadmap for the full integration of South Sudan into the Community.
He said that the proposed roadmap will be used as the benchmark upon which RSS projects, programmes, institutional inclusion, responsibilities and obligations to the EAC will be monitored. The Secretary General urged the meeting to come up with priorities and recommendations to assist the Secretariat to compile the draft roadmap and budget for RSS integration for consideration by both parties before consideration by the EAC Council of Ministers.
Mr. Mou Mou Athian Kuol, the Secretary General of the South Sudan-EAC Secretariat, informed the delegates that South Sudan’s joining the EAC was natural because the country has always been historically, culturally and ethnically a part of the greater East Africa region.
Mr. Kuol said that the country’s membership in the EAC would enhance cooperation in many areas including: governance, economic, political and defence, adding that it would also harmonize the RSS’s legal system, customs and numerous standards with that of the Community and create a web of positive interactions making both internal and external conflict less likely.
The Secretary General revealed that the integration of the RSS into the Community will be done in phases, saying: “Aware of capacity requirements, the implementation shall be phased-in and progressive to allow for South Sudan to build relevant capacity and strengthen its institutions.”
He disclosed that in the course of the negotiations for the admission of RSS into the Community, it was agreed that South Sudan will have 3 years after accession to prepare for implementation of the Customs Union and Common Market Protocols. “After the three-year period, RSS will still be allowed to request for additional time in line with EAC laws if it finds itself unable to comply with certain requirements.”
He also disclosed that following the linear integration model, the initial focus will be on the Customs Union Protocol (implementation of the Common External Tariff and Single Customs Territory) and key provisions of the Common Market Protocol such as Freedom of Movement of Capital, Services, Goods, Persons and Labour.