EAC E-Newsletter
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EAC UPDATE ISSUE NO 74 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 e-EAC Newsletter “TERRORISM CANNOT In this Issue BE JUSTIFIED” “Terrorism Cannot be Justified” ~ says Amb. Sezibera ~ SAYS AMB. SEZIBERA Arusha Hosts 27th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers EAC Election Observer Mission Releases Preliminary Report on Rwanda Parliamentary Elections COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC Conclude Joint Mission to Brussels EACJ dismisses Alcon International Limited dispute EACJ First Instance Division Concludes 3rd Quarter Session EAC Immunization and Vaccines Partners Meet in The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera has Arusha conveyed heartfelt condolences and deep sympathies to His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, the Government and people of Kenya following the deadly Westgate Mall Let Us Know How You Perceive the EAC siege by terrorists. In the message, the Secretary General said “Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and any attempt to justify it is unacceptable”. EAC Showcases Regional Integration Achievements On behalf of the East African Community and his own behalf, Amb. Sezibera extended the EAC’s support as the Republic of Kenya may deem necessary. In Solidarity with the President, Government and People of Kenya, and in respect of the lives lost during the terrorist attack, All flags at the EAC Headquarters will flew at half mast for three days. EAC UPDATE ISSUE NO 74 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 Arusha Hosts 27th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers The 27th ordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers The Chairperson of the Council reiterated the collective need concluded over the 1 September 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania to focus on the greater interests of the East African with the Ministers deliberating on a wide range of regional Community, as the Council seeks to surmount any challenges matters and adopting several policies and directives geared before it. He said the Community was now a bigger at enhancing and strengthening the regional integration and economic and political entity with enormous potential for development process. enhanced leverage in regional and international affairs, if it acts as a bloc. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Shem Bageine, Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Republic of Uganda and Chairperson of “As the EAC moves to the next critical levels of integration, the Council and leaders of Delegations included Hon. Amelia Partner States will, more than ever before, be called upon to Kyambadde, MP, Uganda’s Minister of Trade; Hon. Léontine commit the requisite resources and political will for the Nzeyimana, Burundi’s Minister to the Office of the President attainment of the Common Market, the Monetary Union, and Responsible for EAC Affairs; Hon. Phyllis J. Kandie, Kenya’s the ultimate stage of a Political Federation” affirmed Hon. Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of East African Affairs, Bageine. Commerce & Tourism; Hon. Jacqueline Muhongayire, Rwanda’s Minister for East African Community Affairs; and The Secretary General of the East African Commu- Hon. Samuel J. Sitta, MP, Tanzania’s Minister for East African nity, Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera commended Hon. Monique Cooperation. Mukaruliza, and Hon. Musa Sirma, former Ministers of EAC in Rwanda and Kenya respectively for their dedicated leader- In attendance were several Ministers, Permanent Secretar- ship and service to the Council and the Community. He ies, Heads of EAC Organs and Institutions, EAC Observer congratulated Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, upon her Organizations as well as officials from the EAC Secretariat. (Continued on page 3) 2 EAC UPDATE ISSUE NO 74 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 … Council directs conclusion of consultations on EAC Political Federation Way Forward by Partner States (Continued from page 2) Political Federation: The Council directed Partner States to finalize their national appointment as the first female Executive Secretary of consultations on the Way Forward on the EAC Political Federa- st Southern African Development Community (SADC). He also tion and submit their reports to the Secretary General by 31 commended Amb. George William Kayonga, and Mr. Chiboli October, 2013. Shakaba, former Permanent Secretaries responsible for EAC Affairs in the Republics of Rwanda and Kenya respectively, Bills: The Council adopted the East African Community Science and for their service to the Community. Technology Commission Bill, 2013 and the East African Com- munity Assets and Premises Protection Bill 2013 and refered He welcomed and congratulated Hon. Phyllis Kandie, Kenya’s them to the Sectoral Council on Legal and Judicial Affairs for Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Commerce legal input. and Tourism; Hon. Jacqueline Muhongayire, Minister of EAC Affairs, Republic of Rwanda; and Hon. Johnston Busingye, The Council also directed the United Republic of Tanzania and Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Republic of the Republic of Uganda to deposit instruments of ratification Rwanda. of the Protocol on the Establishment of the Kiswahili Commis- sion and deposit their respective instruments of ratification Amb. Sezibera pointed out that a lot of activities are being with the Secretary General by 31st December 2013. Further, it undertaken and tremendous progress being realized in the directed the United Republic of Tanzania to ratify the Protocol economic, political and social sectors during the period under on the Establishment of the East African Health Research review. He noted that the integration process has proceeded Commission and deposit the instruments of ratification with st very well and many breakthroughs have been made. He the Secretary General by 31 December 2013. wished the Session fruitful deliberations Some of the decisions/directives taken at the 27th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers included: (Continued on page 4) 3 EAC UPDATE ISSUE NO 74 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 … Council adapts modalities for establishment of the EAC Panel of Eminent Persons (Continued from page 3) (k) Revitalization of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization. Republic of South Sudan: The Council approved the negotiations with the Republic of EAC Panel of Eminent Persons: South Sudan to join the East African Community; established The Council adopted the Modalities for the Establishment and a High Level Negotiations Team; directed Partner States to Functioning of the EAC Panel of Eminent Persons and nominate three (3) Members to the High Level Negotiation Establishment of an EAC Peace Facility and directed Partner Team by 30th September 2013; and directed the Secretariat to States to ratify the Protocol on Peace and Security. thereafter convene a meeting of High Level Negotiation Team to start the negotiations with the Republic of South Sudan by 15th October 2013. Executive Staff of LVFO: The Council took note of the new appointments of Executive Federal Republic of Somalia Staff of LVFO namely the Mr. Geoffrey Monor, Executive The Council approved the verification programme for the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary General Dr. Olive application of the Federal Republic of Somalia to join the East Mkumbo, and commend the outgoing staff Mr. Dick Nyeko African Community and established a Verification Committee former Executive Secretary and Mr. Mathias Wafula, former composed of three (3) Experts from each Partner State to Deputy Executive Secretary for the services rendered. undertake the verification exercise and three (3) Experts from the Secretariat to facilitate the exercise scheduled for Alternative Financing Mechanisms: December 2013 - August 2014. In regards to Alternative Financing Mechanisms, the Council directed the Partner States to consult further on the proposal The Council also directed Partner States to nominate experts that the budget of the East African Community be financed by 31st October, 2013 to participate in the verification of the from 1% of the value of imports from outside the East African application of the Federal Republic of Somalia and directed Community and the Secretariat to develop a comprehensive the Verification Committee to submit the report of the verifica- paper on all other alternative financing mechanisms for the tion exercise to the 29th Meeting of the Council scheduled for Community and submit to the Council for consideration. August 2014 for consideration; and directed the Secretary General to communicate to the Government of the Federal Expulsion of Illegal immigrants from Kagera Region: Republic of Somalia to extend appropriate security and proto- The Council directed the United Republic of Tanzania and the col facilitation to the Verification Team while in the Federal Republic of Rwanda to urgently meet to resolve this issue; Republic of Somalia. and directed the Sectoral Council on Peace and Inter-State Security to consider developing regional mechanisms to ad- Key Priority Interventions to be implemented over the dress future challenges of the above nature. FY 2014/15: The Council adopted the following key priority interventions to Trilateral Developments: be implemented over the FY 2014/15: The Council took note of the ongoing trilateral initiatives by (a) Operationalization of the Single Customs Territory; Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda on different matters of integra- tion including infrastructure, establishment of a Single Cus- (b) (b) Implementation of the EAC Common Market toms Territory and the Political Federation; and requested the Protocol; Chairperson of the Council to provide more information on (c) Implementation of the Roadmap towards the these