East African Community Secretariat; Bujumbura, Burundi; 03 April 2017: Climate change, globalization, increased human-animal interactions, anti-microbial resistance and gaps in national healthcare systems are the most likely factors to increase the outbreak of epidemics in East Africa.
Professor Japhet Killewo, of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in the United Republic of Tanzania, said that the world today was changing at an alarming rate with populations living with disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics.
Prof. Killewo said that times were also changing with countries increasingly experiencing a rapid increase in natural and man-made disasters.
Prof. Killewo said that countries within the EAC region and other parts of Africa were simply not prepared for the next epidemic.
“When an epidemic strikes, before we know it, people start dying and when the healthcare system attempts to handle the situation, healthcare workers too, start dying, and suddenly there is no one to handle the situation. Healthcare systems become paralyzed,” said Prof. Killewo, alluding to the Ebola outbreak which swept across West Africa three years ago.
Prof. Killewo was giving the keynote address themed Preparedness for, and control of Disease Outbreaks, Epidemics and Pandemics, in the Context of Climate Change, Globalization and Gaps in Health Systems during the 6th East African Health and Scientific conference held in Bujumbura, Burundi from 29th – 31st March, 2017.
Prof. Killewo attributed the continent’s epidemic unpreparedness to the inability by national surveillance systems that identify disease pathogens and/or track cases of disease to execute their mandates effectively.
“Our health infrastructure is also very poor. During the Ebola outbreak in 2014, fewer people accessed healthcare services because of fear, and more people died from malaria, HIV and TB,” said the medic.
However, Prof. Killewo said that all was not lost citing World Health Organisation statistics over the years indicating declining mortality, decreasing mortality of child under five years of age, decreasing cases of malaria and measles not just in Africa but the world as a whole.
Prof. Killewo warned that global warming – an increase in the average atmospheric temperature which is sufficient to cause climate change – was on the rise. He described climate change as a transformation in global or regional climate patterns, attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.
“Some of the effects of climate change include rising seas, changes in rainfall patterns, drought and flooding, and the more frequent spread of diseases. These diseases include mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, Dengue fever and encephalitis, and water-borne diseases such as cholera,” he said, adding that climate change would increase pressure on food security pushing more people to alternative food sources where they encounter new diseases.
He disclosed were coming up fast due to the rising global population, a surge in animal meat consumption, dramatic increases land use and agriculture, accelerated encroachment on natural habitats for wildlife, increased demand for natural resource.
“All the above conditions collectively conspire to increase the frequency of interactions between people, their domestic animals and wildlife and the opportunities for new diseases to emerge,” said Prof. Killewo.
Prof. Killewo said that globalization had resulted in world travel which ensures that nothing was local anymore allowing diseases to spread very fast across borders.
“People, animals and environment have converged and new, deadly disease have emerged.”
Prof. Killewo revealed that a new global health paradigm called ‘One Health’ or ‘Eco-Health’ had been formulated to promote sectoral collaboration. The paradigm paves the way for preparedness, prevention, detection and response to these diseases.
The university don noted that the world was currently witnessing the 5-8 Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) per year, with number projected to increase to 30 new EIDs by the year 2030.
He warned that common diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and cholera will no longer be treatable due to anti-microbial resistance (AMR). He said epidemics of these diseases were already occurring at alarming rates but added that AMR could be prevented.
On preparedness to tackle epidemics and EIDs, Prof. Killewo said medical practitioners must use “Risk-Based” Models to Target Surveillance.
“The origins of newly emergent diseases have been found to strongly correlate with specific geographic areas, animal hosts, microbial agents and “high risk” populations.”
He said that the geographical distribution or home range of fruit bats corresponds with countries which have experienced Ebola outbreaks.
He described ‘high risk’ populations as people with high levels of exposure to wild animals such as hunters, butchers, traders and consumers of wild game; settlers and domestic animals near wildlife areas, and; loggers, miners, road builders.
“Using these “risk-based” models we will be better prepared to prevent, detect and respond to these potential epidemics and pandemics.”
He disclosed that WHO had developed several guidelines for preparedness of epidemics/pandemics. The WHO guidelines involve four steps: Pre-epidemic preparedness; Alert Phase; Outbreak, Response and Containment Operations, and; Post-epidemic evaluation to help encounter the next wave of epidemic.
“The good news is most emerging pandemic threats are preventable if we can start from the animal world where these viruses may exist even without causing any diseases among them.”
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Bujumbura, Burundi; 01 April 2017: Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has called for close collaboration between medical practitioners and the clergy in the delivery of healthcare.
A jovial President Nkurunziza told delegates to the 6th EAC Health and Scientific Conference being held in Bujumbura, Burundi that human beings and other creatures do not owe their life and survival to doctors, healers or any other health-related sciences but to God.
President Nkurunziza said the society should consider doctors, healers and medical researchers as God’s assistants who in return should not take their responsibilities for granted.
“Whoever lands a helping hand to God, in any healthcare-related activity, should be proud of it on the one hand and, on the other hand, they should refrain from any behaviour or attitude likely to affect life in a negative way,” said Nkurunziza.
President Nkurunziza said that in the beginning, faith and healing were integrated, adding that this was no longer the case today.
“Today, medical science limits itself to what is physical, observable and replicable. In this process, our concept of the person has become fragmented. Diseases of the body are the concern of medicine, problems of the mind are the realm of psychology, while spiritual problems are relegated to pastors and priest,” he said.
The President said the onus was on leaders and clerics to bring faith and the practice of medicine back together as an integrated whole.
“To do this, we must first recognise the wholeness of the person we seek to heal; the combination of body, spirit, emotions and other phenomena,” he said, adding that this could be done in three major ways.
“First, healthcare professionals must understand who the whole person is, and how thoughts, feelings, emotions and desires affect our total health and healing. Secondly, we need to learn how to refer sick persons to pastoral caregivers and how to work together as a team. Thirdly, medical and pastoral leaders need to find ways to develop this team approach in hospitals, clinics and private practice
situations. We must adopt a holistic approach; trying to involve the whole community in the many aspects of this long healing journey.”
He noted that the integrated medico-pastoral healing approach to healing has proven successful in Burundi and other countries.
“There are definite limits of medical science. Unfortunately, not all human conditions and afflictions can be adequately diagnosed even after exhaustive tests and studies. Medical providers live with that reality every day and so do our patients,” said Nkurunziza.
"When specialists and diagnostic studies have not revealed a cause to your symptoms, it does not mean you do not have a problem. It just means that no one has been able to find thus far except God who knows everything. We all know of many cases where doctors give up on their patients. The latter would walk the streets in search of a solution but in vain. Once all ways and means have proven inadequate, an invisible hand works a miracle. That invisible hand is God.”
President Nkurunziza said there had been instances where death certificates were written, people were taken to mortuaries or cemeteries, but manage to return to life, leaving doctors speechless and onlookers astounded.
He noted that many doctors only reconsider their spiritual beliefs when they fall sick with serious diseases.
“Doctors should not wait for the above situation to arise. They should always seek advice, guidance and inspiration from God if they want to be more efficient and successful in the long run,” he said, adding that even death was under God’s control.
“The number of days that we will live on this earth is ordained by God, not by medical science. It is God who has the power to shorten or prolong it. Read Isaiah 38:5 or Job 14:5 for better understanding. “Death, of course, is not a failure. Death is normal. Death may be the enemy, but it is also the natural order of things. There is nothing we can do about it. We have to do with it.”
He quoted the Apostle Paul to the effect that God’s plan was “…to bring all things together.
“We can play a crucial part in this by allowing God to work through healthcare professionals and leaders to reunite medicine and faith because, as God told Moses, ‘I am the Lord who heals you.’ ”
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Kigali, Rwanda; 01 April 2017: Preparations are in high gear for the 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition (EAMBS) to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 23rd to 25th May 2017.
The EAMBS Conference and Exhibition is being organized against a backdrop of economic resurgence and high political commitment to pursue development driven by industrialization. The forum therefore stands to offer an important platform for governments in the region to engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
Speaking during a press conference after the conclusion of the Regional Steering Committee's meeting for the preparations of 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition in Kigali, Minister of Trade, Industry and East Africa Community Affairs in Rwanda, Hon. Francois Kanimba said that the conference seeks to create an avenue for the private sector to advocate and campaign for the acceleration of industrial reforms aimed at improvement of investment conditions in the EAC strategic sectors.
Accompanied by Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Kanimba informed the press that the EAC region has already identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock the potential. These strategic sectors include: agro- processing and agri-business; mineral processing; pharmaceuticals; construction materials; fertilizers & agro-chemicals as well as the strengthened leather & textiles and automotive sector, stated Hon. Kanimba.
The Hon. Minister noted that the EAMBS and Exhibition is expected to create a greater awareness about the opportunities and challenges arising from the Common Market Protocol for the regional manufacturing sector.
The Minister disclosed to the press that some of the key-issues to be addressed at the 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit (EAMBS) include;
How can the region market itself best? Where are the major investment opportunities (IPAs)?
What are currently the biggest challenges for regional manufacturers and how should they be addressed?
What are the success factors for manufacturers in the EAC?
How to gain competitiveness in price and quality?
How to deal with environmental concerns?
What do governments do in order to push local manufacturers (e.g. local content at procurement of public entities)?
What can be done against counterfeits, illicit trade and IP violations?
Can the development of a regional identity (proud to "Buy East African Build East Africa") help to promote and strengthen the internal market? How (and by whom) should that be done?
How important is customer service (thus customer satisfaction?) and customer awareness?
How to develop qualified labor force (industrial skills)?
What sectors are most affected by EAC regulations (positive and negative)?
Is there a specific need for action that can be addressed during the conference?
What role can the East African Diaspora play? Which supportive financing schemes are in place (Diaspora Banking)?
On his part, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo told the press that the Steering Committee Meeting appreciated results from the 2015 event and is building on them to prepare for the next event. “As regards recommendations from the first Business Summit, we developed action plans and policies which are helping the manufacturing sector in our region,” added Hon. Bazivamo.
The EAMBS conference will include an exhibition where investors, enterprises, researchers and academia collectively showcase new products and services as well as exhibit the latest advances in manufacturing technology and innovation, particularly those with relevance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
The 2nd EAMBS is expected to create greater awareness about the opportunities and challenges arising from the Common Market Protocol for the regional manufacturing sector. It is supposed to serve as a platform not only for initial business contacts, but also for exchange of ideas on how to address the existing challenges in the regional integration process.
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Notes to Editor:
The 2nd high-level Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition is the follow up of the 1st Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition which took place at the Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda in 2015.
The biannual East African Manufacturing and Business Summit is being organized against a backdrop of economic resurgence and high political commitment to pursue development driven by industrialization. The forum therefore stands to offer an important platform for governments in the region to engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
The expected outcome is significant impact on broader socio economic development objectives such as employment creation, technology transfer and wealth creation. The forum seeks to create an avenue for the private sector to advocate and campaign for the acceleration of industrial reforms aimed at improvement of investment conditions in the EAC strategic sectors.
The EAC region has already identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock potentials. These strategic sectors include: agro-processing and agri-business; mineral processing; pharmaceuticals; construction materials; fertilizers & agro-chemicals as well as the strengthened leather & textiles and automotive sector.
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.
East African Court of Justice; Arusha, Tanzania; 31 March 2017: The First Instance Division today as it concluded its sessions, dismissed a case filed by Mr. Steven Deniss from The United Republic of Tanzania against the Attorneys General of the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and the Secretary General of the East African Community.
The case which was filed on July 10th 2015 in the First Instance Division complained that the provisions of Article 30(2) of the Treaty Establishing the East African Community, about the two (2) months limitation period for filing a matter before the regional court as specified under that Article 30(2) of the Treaty, that it is not only very restrictive but also unjust and discriminatory.
The Applicant further complained that the Provision does not provide ample time for obtaining legal assistance, conducting legal research, documentation of the evidence and securing witnesses expected of a reference before the East African Court of Justice hence has denied him just like other citizens of the Partner States access to justice which is contrary to the fundamental and operational principles of the Treaty as set out in Articles 6(d) and 7(1) (a). He also alleges that the process by which Article 30 (2) of the Treaty was introduced is illegal and that the 6th Respondent had failed in its duty to advice the Partner States to rectify it and equally the 1st to 5th Respondents have failed to cure the illegality in their responsibility to ensure that the objectives of the Treaty are achieved.
In its judgment, the Court said that it has the jurisdiction to determine the legality of Article 30 (2) of the Treaty. In its determination the court stated that it would not go far to declare Article 30 (2) a violation of Articles 6(d) 7 (1) (a) and 7 (2) of the Treaty. That instead that Article simply clarifies the procedural context within which substantive provisions of Articles 6(d) and 7 (2) should be applied. Court again explained that no evidence was adduced before Court as sufficiently establishes the contradictions it poses viz-a-viz Articles 28 and 29 or irrationality of the said considerations.
That it is a matter that, the Court propose, should receive attention to the relevant organs of the EAC, because a people centred and market driven co-operation as stipulated in the provisions of the Treaty as well as rule of Law, must be of necessity include the notion of equal access to justice by all parties. To court Article 30 (2) it seems that the time limitation in the said Article is intended to facilitate the expeditious realization of the Community’s objectives as detained in Article 5 (2) of the Treaty by forestalling open ended avenues for litigation that could derail the integration process. Further, that for the same reasons, the spirit and letter of the Treaty would be well served if such an expedient approach were equally applied to the Partner States and the Secretary General.
The Court also added that, on the issue whether the Secretary General (6th Respondent) has failed in his responsibility to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the Treaty, especially under Article 71 of the Treaty on the functions of the Secretariat on its duty to conduct investigations, collect information or verify of matters that affect EAC. The Court said that, the generalized invocation of Article 71 of the Treaty and imputation of failure by the Secretary General in his mandate is a misguided approach to litigation.
In conclusion, the Court said that regarding the alternative prayers for orders to affect an amendment to Article 30(2) of the Treaty for the 2- months limitation period be increased to 6-months, or to clothe this Court with the discretion to enlarge the said limitation period, on this issues the Court held that it has no jurisdiction to make orders, the effect of which would be to amend the Treaty. The Court therefore dismissed the Reference and ordered each party to bear its own costs.
The Court today ended its sessions which resumed in February and will sit again in May-June 2017.
The Judges delivered the judgement were Honorable Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi (Principal Judge), Justice Isaac Lenaola (Deputy Principal Judge), Justice Dr. Faustin Ntezilyayo all of the First Instance Division.
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Notes to Editor:
The Reference rose from the allegations that the Applicant was shot, his property lost and he was then forcefully expelled to Rwanda from the Kagera Region of Tanzania by the agents of the Government of Tanzania but was unable to challenge those actions because of the limitation imposed on him by Article 30(2) of the Treaty.
Article 30 (2) provides that: The proceedings provided for in this Article shall be instituted within two months of the enactment, publication, directive, decision or action complained of, or in the absence thereof, of the day in which it came to the knowledge of the complainant, as the case may be;
For more information, please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo Registrar East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 27 2162149 mail: Okubo [at] eachq.org www.eacj.org
About the East African Court of Justice:
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
East African Community Secretariat; Bujumbura, Burundi; 29 March 2017: Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has urged researchers from the six East African Community Partner States to set aside the tendency to compete amongst themselves and instead embrace a culture of cooperation in their work.
President Nkurunziza said closer cooperation among researchers and scientists in the region would result in synergy and greater benefits to East Africans. President said this cooperation was all the more relevant at a time when the world is getting smaller with increasingly cross-cutting concerns.
“The increasing complexity of health issues requires partnerships and collaboration of specialities and skills,” said President Nkurunziza.
The Burundian leader called on governments and other stakeholders in the region to commit themselves to ensuring that people, their livelihoods, well-being and in particular their health are the focus of climate change.
“I invite the health and environmental sectors within the Member States of the East African Community to exchange their experiences, technical expertise and best practices to improve health and protect the environment,” said Nkurunziza.
"I also strongly appeal to economic operators in general, and manufacturers in particular to become more aware of health issues, especially in as much as their actions often have a negative impact on animal and environmental health,” he added.
The Head of State said that today climate change increases food insecurity, worsens malnutrition and accentuates the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria in East Africa.
“The health situation in our Community therefore calls for a medium- and long-term programme to combat the vectors of these diseases and to educate the public about the change of behaviour in order to have a sound health and an increased awareness for the protection of the environment,” said the President.
President Nkurunziza was speaking at the Ecole Polytechnique Professionnelle de Bujumbura when he officially opened the 6th EAC Health and Scientific Conference and International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair. The three-day conference has drawn more than 500 delegates mainly comprising health sector researchers, practitioners and academics, and development partners.
President Nkurunziza said that the free movement of people and goods as enshrined in the EAC Common Market Protocol comes at a cost, adding that such challenges could only be overcome through research.
In these times when borders are opening up, implying not only a greater circulation of goods, people and ideas, science is an indispensable competitive advantage, while research for development brings about solidarity and innovation,” he said.
The President said that in recent decades, new diseases had not only emerged but diseases that were considered to be under control had also re-emerged in a much a more serious form.
“The exponential mobility of people helped by transport development, creates conditions conducive to the spread of these pathologies and their geographical spread is now progressing at a more sustained pace than in the past. These diseases originate from various causes: zoonotic, food, chemical or radio-nuclear materials,” added Nkurunziza.
Speaking at the function, Hon. Ummy Mwalimu, the Chairperson of the EAC Sectoral Council on Health who is also Tanzania’s Minister for Health directed the East African Health Research Commission to relocate from Arusha, Tanzania to Bujumbura where it is supposed to be based immediatly.
Hon. Mwalimu said the Council would not entertain any more excuses from the Commission on why it would not relocate to Bujumbura.
Hon. Mwalimu was responding to concerns raised by Burundi’s Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Josiane Nijimbere, who urged the EAC to fast-track the relocation of the EAHRC to Bujumbura.
In his remarks, EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko noted that the EAC Partner States which together have a combined population of approximately 168 million people face similar challenges in terms of increased human movement, a high disease burden, inadequate health services, work force, and a limited evidence to guide health policy.
Amb. Mfumukeko said that evidence from research indicates that global climate change has an impact on the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and that the association between the emergence of infectious disease outbreaks and global climate change had been proven.
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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.
East African Legislative Assembly; Juba, South Sudan; 24 March 2017: President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit late last week held cordial discussions with the EALA Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega in State House, Juba.
The President was emphatic that Republic of South Sudan would benefit a great deal from the integration process and said his country was happy to be part of the regional economic bloc.
“The geographical location of South Sudan itself even without much description makes it a natural and perfect choice to belong to the bloc” President Kiir said.
The President hailed EALA for its contribution to the integration process through the legislative agenda, affirming that Republic of South Sudan had already completed the elections of its Members to the 4th Assembly and was rearing to go. He urged the Speaker and the Assembly to go flat out in creating awareness about the integration process in the Republic of South Sudan.
"Your coming here today is a blessing as it will also educate our Parliamentarians”, President Kiir said while calling for capacity building of the legislators and the citizens of the country to embrace the opportunities on offer in the bloc.
The President remarked that Republic of South Sudan was pursuing stability and said Government was committed to the peace initiative and keen to address the myriad of challenges occasioned by the war.
On his part, EALA Speaker, Rt Hon. Daniel F. Kidega hailed South Sudan’s admission in to the EAC as timely, given the linguistic and cultural connections the young nation shares with the bloc and said its full and total integration was of absolute importance. He informed President Kiir of the Assembly’s total support towards initiatives aimed at uniting the country and lauded the Peace Agreement to this effect. He remarked that Africa’s challenges would ideally be solved by the African people themselves.
The Speaker remarked that the region needed to be more vigilant in the fight against terrorism.
He informed the President that EALA regularly meets in the Partner States and had employed the principle of rotation when holding its Sittings.
“We shall at an appropriate time sit here in Juba and will be requesting you to address the Assembly then, Your Excellency,” the Speaker said, receiving an affirmative nod from President Salva Kiir.
Later in the afternoon, the Speaker called on the 1st Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Taban Deng Gai at his Office. The First Vice President maintained that Government of South Sudan prioritised restoration of normalcy in the country and termed reforms as one of the mainstays of the process. He said President Salva Kiir and the Government had institutionalised national dialogue and asked the EAC to follow up on the matter keenly.
H.E. Taban Deng also rallied the EAC Partner States to support the Republic of South Sudan to help the nascent nation towards improving its economy, which he said, had suffered as a result of the war. He remarked that the EAC was a natural choice for South Sudan and said the country was gearing up to take advantage of the opportunities.
The Vice President was emphatic that the envisaged deployment of the Regional Protection Force with forces from the region would play a key role in the disarmament process and add more value in stabilizing the nation, which is preparing for polls in the next 20 months.
“There needs to be peace in the country in order to enable the citizens to go about developing the country in a more free and conducive environment”, H.E. Taban Deng said.
Meanwhile, the EALA Speaker and his counterpart at the Transitional National Assembly of South Sudan, Rt Hon. Anthony Lino Makana held fruitful discussions at the Parliament of South Sudan.
Rt Hon. Kidega welcomed the Republic of South Sudan to the regional Assembly in particular, saying the 4th Assembly would continue to be a major player in the integration process.
“The 4th Assembly of which South Sudan will participate in, needs to consolidate on the gains and strengthen the integration process even further. Key legislation that anchor the Common Market Protocol and the Monetary Union will be useful. Another key area may be the one of ensuring the Assembly gains full autonomy over time”, Speaker Kidega said.
Rt Hon. Kidega spoke of some of the achievements of the 3rd Assembly and cited some of the significant milestones to include passage of 28 Bills, adoption of over 65 Resolutions and 80 reports, processing of 5 petitions and the revision of the Rules of Procedure to strengthen the instruments of governance.
On his part, the Speaker of the Transitional Assembly of South Sudan, Rt Hon. Anthony Lino Makana remarked that the country was expected to benefit a great deal from the integration process.
In attendance were First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly, Rt Hon. Timothy T. Chol and the Deputy Speaker (in charge of Administration and Finance) Hon. Dr Awel Mawien.
The EALA Speaker also held discussions with the Speaker of the Council of States, Rt Hon. Joseph Bol Chan and the Adviser to the President on Integration and Economic Affairs, Hon. Aggrey Tisa Sabuni.
Two weeks ago, the Secretary General of the Community Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko led a delegation of EAC Executives and senior officials in meeting with a high-power delegation of the RSS. The Secretary General remarked that EAC would engage in a capacity building programme for Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Republic of South Sudan would focus on all aspects around the EAC integration.
Republic of South Sudan was admitted in to the EAC last year in April 2016 after H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed the accession Treaty in Dar es Salaam. H.E. Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, Chair of the EAC Heads of State Summit, hosted the President of South Sudan at the ceremony in State House Dar es Salaam. The Republic of South Sudan thereafter deposited the instruments of ratification of the Treaty for accession with the EAC Secretary General. A month earlier (March 2016), at the 17th Ordinary Summit taking place in Arusha, the EAC Heads of State Summit approved the admission of the new country.
Being admitted to the regional body means that Republic of South Sudan will enjoy all the economic benefits on offer through the Customs Union Protocol and Common Market Protocol. Sudan will also benefit from the region as it moves to increase economic integration through a Monetary Union and eventually, establish a Political Federation.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Bobi Odiko Senior Public Relations Officer East African Legislative Assembly Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103 Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly:
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 24 March 2017: The 35th meeting of the East African Community Council of Ministers is set to take place from 30th March to 4th April 2017 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Session of Senior Officials is from Thursday 30th to Friday 31st March. The Coordination Committee Session (Permanent /Principal Secretaries) is on 1st and 2nd April and the Ministerial Session is on 3rd to 4th April, 2017.
The meeting is considering the following matters: Report on the implementation of Previous Decisions of the Council; Report of the Office of the Secretary General; Report on Planning and Infrastructure; and Report on Productive and Social Sectors.
Other Reports to be considered are: Report on Political Matters; Customs and Trade; Report on the Finance and Administration Matters; and Reports of other EAC Organs i.e. East African Legislative Assembly and East African Court of Justice.
Reports of EAC Institutions are also on the agenda namely; East African Civil Aviation Safety, Security and Oversight Agency, (CASSOA); Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO); Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA); East African Development Bank; Lake Victoria Basin Commission; East African Science and Technology Commission; East African Kiswahili Commission; and East African Health Research Commissio
The Council of Ministers is the Policy Organ of the Community. It consists of the Ministers responsible for East African Community/regional cooperation of each Partner State and such other Ministers of the Partner State as each Partner State shall determine. Among its functions, the Council promotes, monitors and keeps under constant review the implementation of the programmes of the Community and ensures the proper functioning of the regional organization.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 24 March 2017: The World Bank has hailed the East African Community for the steady progress it has made towards the creation of the Common Market.
Mr. Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, the World Bank’s Coordinating Director on EAC integration noted in particular the operationalization of the Single Customs Territory by the EAC Partner States, adding that the region had experienced increased intra-regional trade.
Mr. Ndiaye further praised the EAC Secretariat for the efforts it is undertaking to monitor the implementation of the Common Market Protocol with the aim of lifting all the remaining barriers to free movement of people, labour, goods, services and capital.
Mr. Ndiaye said that there had been excellent collaboration between the EAC and the World Bank, noting that the Community had been very active in recent years in engaging the bank and developing a programme of collaboration to support the implementation of its ambitious regional integration agenda.
“The EAC leadership reached out to the Partner States and convinced Ministers of Finance to approach the Bank and request its technical and financial support to the implementation of programmes sponsored by the EAC Secretariat and other EAC regional institutions such as the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme, among others,” said the Bank official.
He said that this active engagement with the World Bank led to the development of a strong active support programme worth US$2.97 billion which represents 33% of total International Development Association (IDA) regional lending in Sub-Saharan Africa as of today.
He observed that among the portfolio of projects funded by IDA were those that support EAC institutional and capacity development, adding that the implementation was progressing well.
“These include financial sector integration, capacity development in financial management of the Secretariat and EAC institutions, statistical capacity development for the Regional Bureau of Statistics and medicine regulatory harmonization,” said the Bank official.
He, however, disclosed that only 19% of the agreed amount had been disbursed as of now.
“The EAC Secretariat and member states need to take strong actions to accelerate the pace of implementation and deliver concrete results to the people of the region, in particular by speeding up the implementation of infrastructure projects,” said Mr. Ndiaye.
Mr. Ndiaye was speaking during a meeting with EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The meeting was called to discuss the way forward on EAC Financial Sector Development and Regionalization Project (FSDRP).
The Secretariat, on its part, led by Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko urged the Bank to support various priority areas including: the harmonisation of commercial laws across the EAC region; creation of an e-business register; issues of connectivity especially interlinking of banks; harmonisation of public financial management to similar standards across all the Partner States, and; harmonisation of statistics in the region to promote banking inter-operability.
The Secretariat was of the view that an e-business registry would help integrate trade across East Africa in addition to being critical for the success of the East African Monetary Union. The Monetary Union will only be achieved if there is full financial integration.
The e-business register would also facilitate the establishment of a fully single market for trade within East Africa.
On issues of connectivity, the Secretariat noted that it had in place plans to increase investment in roads, dry ports and inter-modal transport on Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria with additional focus on the navigability of waterways.
The EAC Secretariat asked the Bank to support the harmonisation of statistics in the region by providing Partner States’ statistical bureaus with money and equipment.
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Notes to Editor:
Since its inception in June 2011 with a US$16 million IDA grant by the World Bank and other development partners, FSDRP has registered remarkable progress in six (6) major components, namely:
Financial inclusion and strengthening market participants;
Harmonization of financial laws and regulations against common standards;
Mutual recognition of supervisory agencies;
Integration of financial market infrastructures;
Development of regional bond market, and;
Capacity building
In response to the successes of the project, the EAC Secretariat successfully negotiated addition funding to the tune of US$10.5 million to be implemented over a three-year period from 2016 to 2019. The Secretariat and the Bank signed the agreement for additional funding in December 2016.
The activities supported by this additional financing will be consistent with the project development objective of FSDRP I which was to establish the foundation for financial sector integration among EAC Partner States. The additional funding will also scale up the scope of existing activities in order to deepen the development effectiveness of the project and build on the momentum attained by focusing on the policy areas that have seen the most progress so far.
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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 24 March 2017: A delegation from the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), led by Commissioner Hon. Morris Dzoro, was at the EAC Headquarters today on study tour, as part of the Commission’s visit to various Institutions of Governance in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, in the United Republic of Tanzania.
Welcoming the Commissioners to the EAC Headquarters, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge noted that the mandate of the NCIC was to encourage national cohesion and integration by outlawing all kinds of discrimination on ethnic grounds; to fight hate speech and to provide for the establishment, powers and functions of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, and for connected purposes.
“Indeed your mandate and functions complement the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC and the protocols, strategy and mechanisms deriving from the Treaty” asserted Mr. Njoroge, adding that “EAC puts at the heart of integration efforts for the harmony and peaceful co-existence of the people of EAC Region
The Deputy Secretary General informed his guests that the Treaty and EAC Founding Fathers recognize peace and security as a pre-requisite for socio-economic development and achievement of EAC integration objectives.
He commended the delegation for the good work they were doing for the Kenyan people in promoting national cohesion, integration and peace, particularly during electoral period. “Without national unity, development and prosperity of Kenyan and any other EAC Partner State are illusive”.
On his part, the leader of the delegation, Hon. Morris Dzoro, commended the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge for spearheading several initiatives in the Political Affairs of the Community. He also commended the EAC Secretariat for steering the regional integration process in the right direction and said their visit will enhance implementation of their mandate.
The delegation was given a detailed brief on the functions of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), and on the EAC Early Warning Mechanism (EACWARN) and the EAC Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Mechanism (CPMR Mechanism).
While in Arusha, the delegation lmet and held discussions with officials from the East African Business Council (EABC), the East African Law Society (EALS), and the East African Civil Society Forum (EASCOF).
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 23 March 2017: The East African Community is developing a Regional Training Curriculum to support the operationalization of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) within the bloc. The training curriculum is a major capacity building tool for OSBPs in the region.
In a 20th - 24th March meeting, with the support of GIZ - African Union Border Program (AUBP), currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda, Partner States’ experts from the Revenue and Immigration Authorities are developing the tool, which aims at training the OSBP officers on the rules and ways to operate in their different positions at their different posts in cooperation and coordination with their different counterparts.
The Regional Training Curriculum looks at how best to allow the different agencies to play their role and work together so as to enhance and accelerate the smooth operationalization of the OSBPs. The curriculum will be based on the existing instruments adopted by the EAC including the OSBP Act, Sourcebook and Manual. It will also take into account the already existing instruments of sensitization and capacity building availed by the other Development Partners of the EAC such as the IOM, JICA and TMEA.
According to the Ag. Director General of the EAC Directorate of Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, the development of the curriculum commenced in December 2016 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the Kigali meeting is a continuation of the process, which comes at a time when the Community had successfully developed the OSBP Regulations and OSBP Manual.
“In order to have hands on experience on what happens in an OSBP, prior to the meeting, the delegates’ visited two functioning OSBPs, at Cyanika and Kagitumba/Mirama Hills. The output of the visits to the border posts greatly enhanced the curriculum development process”, noted the Ag. Director General, adding that the Partner States Experts who played a central role in the development of the OSBP Manual were also assisting in the development of the Training Curriculum.
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Notes to Editor:
The operationalisation of OSBPs in the region is not without challenges. Some of the challenges relate to inadequate infrastructure at many of these border posts including housing for staff, amenities such as schools and hospitals, holding grounds for quarantined animals, insufficient water resources and in some cases unreliable power supply and not the least human capacity and skills shortfalls in a number of critical areas.
In order to realize the goal of African integration, there is need to ensure smooth management of borders allowing swift and hustle-free movement of goods, persons, workers and services. This initiative will need to be bolstered by strengthening security measures that halt cross border criminal activities. Moving towards these goals the African Union, through its Border Program (African Union Border Program (AUBP) has encouraged/urged its member states to embrace a smoother management of border crossing points through installation and implementation of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs).
There are 77 borders in Africa that have been earmarked for OSBP construction with 15 of them being in East Africa Community (EAC). The OSBPs are therefore becoming more popular at the regional level. They are seen as a modern approach towards facilitating movement of goods, persons and services across national borders. The OSBP concept promotes simplification of controls at borders through a one-time check at the border between two countries. In practice, OSBP is achieved by placing the border officials of two adjoining countries at each other’s adjoining border post so that border control checks will be jointly conducted by relevant officers from the two neighbouring countries at once on the side of the entry country. Once such a check has taken place on one side of the border, no other check will follow. Operating OSBPs requires a tight coordinated cooperation between the agencies present at borders including immigration, police, customs, health etc.
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.
