The East African

Community, 2019

"If a door is shut, attempts should be made to open it; if it is ajar, it should be pushed until it is

wide open.”

—

Contents

Contents ...... 1

Letter from the Director ...... 4

Mandate ...... 6

Background ...... 7

Decolonization ...... 7

Countries ...... 7

Forming of the ...... 10

Important Dates ...... 11

The EAC in 2019 ...... 13

Topics ...... 15

Positions ...... 17

A note on positions ...... 17

Burundi ...... 17

Kenya ...... 19

Rwanda ...... 21

South ...... 23

Tanzania ...... 25

Uganda ...... 27

Bibliography ...... 29

Letter from the Director

Delegates, Hello, and welcome to WUMUNS XIII! My name is Lydia Nickels, and I’m a senior here at WashU, majoring in English Literature and minoring in African and African American Studies. I am very excited to be directing One People, Countless Destinies: Power and Progress in the East African Community. This will be the second committee I’ve directed, and the fourth I’ve been involved with since coming to WashU. Since moving to in 2010 with my family, I have been deeply passionate about East African politics and their socio-economic repercussions. This committee revolves around the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), the legislative branch of the East African Community. The East African Community has been a recognized political entity since the creation and signing of its treaty in 1999, with different countries joining the coalition since. Together, the EAC seeks to integrate its different member states, and move toward a unified East African . While its motto states “One People, One Destiny,” the organization faces many difficulties, from poverty to corruption to cultural divide. Set in 2019, this committee will seek to achieve this body’s goal in the face of the ever-increasing corruption and authoritarian rule threatening many of its member states. East Africa is an often overlooked and misunderstood region, with a deep history of repression and injustice. At a glance, the region’s past seems to define itself by its losses and misfortunes, but upon closer examination, the region appears as it is: a conglomeration of countries built out of independence, the desire for equality, and the refusal to take a back seat in their own destiny. A diverse, complicated quilt of ethnic, cultural, and racial groups, the problems East Africa faces take far more investigation and understanding than they are often granted. East Africa has changed drastically since its time of colonization and European control; it has grown outside of the boundaries the Western World wishes to place around it, and I would challenge you, delegates, to treat it with the respect it deserves. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have. They may include anything from issues with translations, pronunciations, or any other

4 confusions you may have. I understand this topic may be unfamiliar to many of you, so please don’t hesitate to come to me with any questions.

Until then, Lydia Nickels [email protected]

5

Mandate

Dr. Richard Liberat Mfumukeko Secretary General of the East African Community , Tanzania January 2019

To the East African Legislative Assembly:

My friends and fellow colleagues, As you well know, these are trying times. It seems that we are surrounded constantly by the oppression of poverty, corruption, neo-imperialism, and the power hungry greed of countless diplomats within our respective political spheres. By the time you receive this mandate, I will have issued an immediate meeting of this EAC organ. The time has come for the true legislative power of this assembly to be realized. Too long has bureaucracy held back the full potential of this body: the potential to uplift our countries toward the unifying power of one nation, and an East Africa united. As I said before, these are trying times, and trust between our fellow colleagues is despicably low. I have chosen you delegates as representatives for this emergency meeting, as I have found you all to be upstanding, trustworthy, and driven members of the EAC. I would note that our current Chairperson, Dr. John Pombe Magufuli is not aware of this assembly session, and many of your fellow members will not be in attendance. In order to foster the kind of power and independence the East African Community not only needs but has the ability to achieve, we must remain strong in our bonds of loyalty, trust, and humility as we strive to take what has long been our duty: a powerful, wealthy, strong body of nations, forming our own destiny.

One people, one destiny! Dr. Richard Liberat Mfumukeko

6

Background

Decolonization The colonial period in Africa ranged from the mid to late 1800’s with the “scramble for Africa” up to the 20th century, when the movement towards decolonization began. Due to different internal and external factors, such as the Atlantic Charter of 1941, the continent of Africa moved gradually towards a state of independence. During these decades of nonconsensual domination by European nations, namely Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain; African nations both grew and suffered in a complex conglomeration of impacts and consequences.

By the time of the 21st century, African nations have been crippled, stunted, and handicapped by their victimhood of imperialism, resulting in governmental corruption, poverty, disease epidemics, starvation, substandard infrastructure, and low standards of education, all of which are fought daily by the people of these struggling nations. This is not to say that these countries are inherently degraded by their struggles, when in fact there is a vibrancy, beauty, and cultural richness found in African countries unlike anywhere else on earth. That being said, survival is a struggle for many of this continent’s people.

Countries

Often known for its ethnic genocide in 1994, Rwanda has a diverse and complex history. Rwanda and share a similar colonial past due to their geographical location,

7 as both were originally under German rule until World War I, when Belgium took power. Hutu and Tutsi contention can be traced back to its fight for independence, when Hutus rose up against the colonial power and the “favored” Tutsi minority, eventually claiming independence in 1962, which had incidentally resulted in a mass Tutsi expulsion. Rwanda’s profound history of tension between these two tribes culminated in their ethnic genocide, often referred to as a civil war by the international community, which resulted in the estimated deaths of around 800,000 Tutsis and over 150,000 cases of rape and sexual violence against Tutsi women. Although Rwanda has a violent history, the country is also geographically stunning, with rolling hills and progressive anti-pollution legislation to protect its natural beauty.

Kenya

Kenya was colonized by the British after the Berlin Conference and established in 1920. With a deep history of white settlers, its fertile lands were dominated by plantations and massive farmlands, especially in the lands surrounding Mount Kenya. Through the Mau Mau rebellion beginning in 1942, and through mass civilian dissidence, Kenya eventually gained independence in 1963 under their first president, . Kenya currently is one of the more affluent countries in East Africa, but maintains its fair share of struggle. Kenya exists essentially as a one party state, dominated by the Kenyatta family, a tradition that has lead to serious strife and bloodshed surrounding their elections.

South Sudan

South Sudan is one of the most unique countries involved with the East African community. Joining the community most recently, in 2016, this nation has only been independent since its 2011 secession from Sudan following years of brutal civil war. Unfortunately, the bloodshed did not stop after gaining independence. Instead, South Sudan is still shaken by instability, poverty, and almost constant strife that has lead to approximately 4 million of its citizens being displaced. A highly diverse country made up of an estimated 60 different ethnic groups, the territory that is now South Sudan was once controlled by Britain and as a part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and gained independence in 1956. Sudan was wracked by civil war for the majority of its independence, a situation

8 that has taken a toll of South Sudan. Severe famine, political corruption and a failed coup, failed peace treaties, and media control are some of the issues facing the struggling nation today.

Tanzania

The country of Tanzania is comprised of the mainland region, formerly known as , and the islands of ,Pemba, and Mafia. First under German colonial rule and then existing as a British protectorate, this country had a relatively smooth movement for independence. Lead by Mwalimu (teacher) Julius Nyerere, Tanzania gained independence in 1964, with Nyerere as their first president. The government adopted a policy of , roughly translating to brotherhood. Ujamaa was an economic, social, and political reform that in many cases weakened the economic structure and stability of the nation. Known for its beautiful landscapes, including Mount Kilimanjaro (the tallest freestanding mountain in the world), the Tanzanian economy depends greatly off of tourism. Historically peaceful, increasing governmental corruption and control threatens the security of this nation, especially under Tanzania’s current president John Pombe Magufuli, who is currently displaying dictator-like tendencies. Like Kenya, Tanzania is also essentially a one party state.

Uganda

Uganda gained its independence in 1962 under president Dr. Milton Apollo Obote after being a British colony since 1894. After a somewhat rocky beginning with incidents surrounding the constitution and the monarchy, Obote attained powers of the office of the President and the Prime minister. Soon after, Idi Amin began his struggle for power, an infamous time period in which citizens of Asian descent were expelled from the country, and hundreds of thousands of Ugandans suffered unjust deaths at the hands of the government. The current President, , has been in rule since 1986, and while Uganda has remained relatively stable in that time he is responsible for political and media suppression. The conflict in South Sudan has resulted in a surge of refugees into the country, destabilizing the economy in certain places.

Burundi

9

Burundi was occupied first by Germany as part of German East Africa 1890, and later by Belgium in 1916. This change in colonizer was a result of World War I, a change that occured for many other African nations as well. Upon gaining independence in 1961, Burundi separated from Rwanda becoming one of the smallest countries in Africa. Pierre Nkurunziza is their current president. More recently, the country of less than 11 million people has struggled with political corruption, control over the media, and conflict between ethnicities. These challenges are common amongst many African countries. The heart of ethnic conflicts can often be traced back to the Berlin Conference, when Europeans sectioned off the continent into territories that fit their agenda, with little to no regard for the different ethnic and cultural groups that were being seperated or forced together by this decision.

Forming of the East African Community Originally founded in 1967, the East African Community as it is known today was founded in 1999, with Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya as its first members, followed by Rwanda and Burundi in 2007, and South Sudan in 2016. Although the member nations share equal autonomy and are similarly linked, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda share a historical and cultural link due to their colonial ties as well as their shared language- Kiswahili. The EAC’s formative treaty states their mission as follows:

“The attainment of sustainable growth and development of the partner States by promotion of a more balanced and harmonious development of the partner States.

The strengthening and consolidation of cooperation in agreed fields that would lead to equitable economic development within the partner States and which would in turn, raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life of their populations.

The promotion of sustainable utilization of the natural resources and taking of measures that would effectively protect the natural environment of the partner States.

10

The strengthening and consolidation of the long-standing political, economic, social, cultural and traditional ties and associations between the peoples of the partner States so as to promote a people-centred mutual development of these ties and associations.

The mainstreaming of gender in all its endeavours and the enhancement of the role of women in cultural, social, political, economic and technological development. The promotion of peace, security, and stability within, and good neighbourliness among the partner States.

The enhancement and strengthening of partnerships with the private sector and civil society in order to achieve sustainable socioeconomic and political development.

The undertaking of such other activities calculated to further the objectives of the community, as the partner States may from time to time decide to undertake in common.” (UN Economic Commission for Africa)

Important Dates • 30 November 1993: 1st Summit of East African Heads of State sign Agreement establishing the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation in , Uganda. • 14 March 1996: Secretariat of the Commission for East African Co-operation launched in Arusha, Tanzania. • 28 April 1997: EAC Member States sign Tripartite Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation. • 29 April 1997: 2nd Summit of the East African Co-operation Heads of State is held in Arusha, Tanzania; 1st East African Co-operation Development Strategy (1997- 2000), East African Flag and East African Passport launched; and Permanent Tripartite Commission mandated to embark on process of upgrading EAC Agreement into Treaty.

11

• 30 April 1998: 9th Meeting of the Permanent Tripartite Commission in Arusha launches a draft Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community; approves programme for its wide publicity; EAC Memorandum of Understanding on Co- operation in Defence signed in Arusha; Tripartite Agreement on Road Transport signed in Arusha; and Inland Waterway Transport Agreement signed in Arusha. • 30 November 1999: 4th Summit held in Arusha at which Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community is signed. • 7 July 2000: Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community enters into force; new regional organisation, the East African Community, comes into being. • 15 January 2001: 1st Summit of the East African Community is held in Arusha; signs Protocols on: Rules of Procedure for the Summit of Heads of State; Rules of Procedure for the Admission of other countries to the East African Community; and formally launches the East African Community at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha. • 30 November 2001: 3rd Summit of EAC held in Arusha; EAC Heads of State inaugurate East African Legislative Assembly and East African Court of Justice. • 2 March 2004: EAC Summit signs Protocol for Establishment of the EAC Customs Union. • 1 January 2005: EAC Customs Union becomes operational. • 18 June 2007: The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi accede to EAC Treaty. • 1 July 2007: Rwanda and Burundi become full members of the EAC. • 5 June 2007: Second Assembly (EALA) sworn in. • 22 October 2008: First EAC-COMESA-SADC Tripartite Summit held in Kampala, Uganda. Discusses single Free Trade Area and merger of the three regional blocs. • 1 July 2009: Rwanda and Burundi join the EAC Customs Union. Official launch ceremonies held simultaneously in the two countries’ capitals on 6 July 2009.

12

• 20 November 2009: Protocol for the Establishment of the EAC Common Market signed; climax of observance of EAC 10th Anniversary celebrations; laying of foundation stone for EAC Headquarters in Arusha. • 1 January 2010: EAC’s fully-fledged Customs Union takes effect following the end of a five-year transitional period. • 1 July 2010: EAC Common Market Protocol enters into force, following ratification by all the five EAC Partner States. • 3 December 2010: EAC Summit of Heads of State adopts the EAC Anthem. • 12 June 2011: Second COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Summit held in Johannesburg, ; agrees to start negotiations for a Grand Free Trade Area among the three blocs. • 5 June 2012: Third Assembly (EALA) sworn in. • 28 November 2012: Presidents of the EAC Partner States officially inaugurate the new EAC Headquarters in Arusha. • 30 November 2013: Protocol for the Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union signed. • 16 April 2016: The Republic of South Sudan joins the EAC. • 5 September 2016: The Republic of South Sudan becomes a full member of the EAC

The EAC in 2019 The East African Community continues to function as an intergovernmental organization focused on the development and unity of East Africa. Their media sites say that “The EAC is home to 150 million citizens, of which 22% is urban population. With a land area of 1.82 million square kilometres and a combined of US$ 146 billion (EAC Statistics for 2016), its realisation bears great strategic and geopolitical significance and prospects for the renewed and reinvigorated EAC… As one of the fastest growing regional economic blocs in the world, the EAC is widening and deepening co- operation among the Partner States in various key spheres for their mutual benefit. These spheres include political, economic and social… The process towards an East African Federation is being fast tracked, underscoring the serious determination of the East African

13 leadership and citizens to construct a powerful and sustainable East African economic and political bloc.”

14

Topics

As stated in the sections concerning the individual countries, East Africa is undergoing issues economically, socially, and politically. Economically, East Africa suffers from extreme poverty for the majority of its people, as well as a huge disparity between the privileged upper class and the lower, working class. These countries are struggling to maintain their workforce, especially their educated elite, as these individuals emigrate to countries with higher pay and better amenities. This brain drain is a big stumbling block for the development of East Africa. Foreign aid is also a topic of discussion, as many countries are attempting to grow more independent despite stifling their economies due to cutting this aid. Socially, there are high rates of unemployment and significant sexism at place in the work sphere. Children are often expected to work to support their families, pulling them out of schools many families cannot even afford to begin with. Child marriage, FGM, and ethnic tensions are also found in many of these countries. Politically, the past few years have seen a spike in authoritarian leadership in East Africa. Leaders often remain in office past their legally allotted term, and acquire more power than constitutionally allowed. There is corruption within political parties, elections, and the government itself.

15

Despite these difficulties, East Africa is a land of opportunity. These countries have countless possibilities before them, possibilities that the EAC are trying to bring to fruition. East Africa has one of the fastest growing economies in the world despite its major setbacks. There are vast natural resources available within these countries that could propel them into the industrial sphere. Due to its tropical climate, with a creative use of water resources, these countries could have yearlong growing seasons. East Africans are intelligent, hardworking, and ready for their countries to move past their histories of colonialism and claim their seat at the table of industry, trade, and the arts. East Africa has a long cultural history of diverse forms of art, music, and dance. It is a region full of different languages, cultures, and histories. Tourism is a huge business within this region and continues to grow annually. With strong leadership, a unified mindset, and the support of the people, there is nothing that East Africa cannot do.

16

Positions

A note on positions Although the names of the below EAC representatives are real, due to the lack of publicly available information about these individuals, their descriptions are fictitious. All position descriptions are not representative of each individual’s life story or policy preferences in the real world and should only be considered for the purposes and in the context of this committee.

Burundi Hon. Léontine Nzeyimana

Léontine is from an affluent family in Bujumbura, Burundi. Elected in 2017, Léontine is passionate on education reform in East Africa, especially in terms of respect for national languages, cultures, and historical achievements from a non colonial mindset. As a woman, Léontine fights as well for gender equality in education, and has high social standing amongst local governmental organizations for her work towards empowering women in higher education specifically as well as in the workplace later on. There are many powerful women who would stand by Léontine if a need arose.

Hon. Marie Claire Burikukiye

With a long history of fighting for Tutsi rights, Marie Claire is deeply entrenched in social rights movements in Burundi. Originally from Rutana, Marie Claire worked through secondary school, higher education, and eventually her doctorate, a far cry from her rural agrarian roots. As the first person in her family to achieve secondary education, let alone diplomatic status, Marie Claire keeps her Tutsi roots in the forefront of her political aspirations. Involved in the founding of an underground Tutsi organization seeking reparations from Hutus, Marie Claire hopes to use her strong underground movement to achieve the reparations she, her family, and her people desire.

Hon. Sophie Nsavyimana

Sophie found her passion for international politics during her time studying at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. After seeing the devastating impacts of apartheid

17 in the country, and experiencing racial discrimination at her predominantly white university, Sophie is firmly against any form of neocolonialism, racial hierarchies in favor of white foreigners, and remnants of colonial culture that remain in African politics. Sophie maintains contact with the ANC connections she made through her political career there.

Hon. Alfred Ahingejeje

Alfred harbors deep distrust for the Burundian government. Loyal to the past Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin Ndimira, Alfred’s political mentor and supporter, Alfred seeks to use his position in the EALA to undermine the power of Nkurunziza and establish himself firmly in a more powerful position in his home’s government. A firm socialist, Alfred hopes to establish an economy and government in keeping with the policies of Nkrumah in and Nyerere in Tanzania.

Hon. Jean-Marie Muhirwa

A magnate of tourism and wildlife preservation in Burundi, Karerwa has been passionate about protecting Burundi’s biodiversity since his childhood spent on a farm in a rural part of the north of the country. Although Africa is well known globally for its tourism, most tourism is done unsustainably and unethically- with profit being valued over the safety of the land and wildlife nine times out of ten. Often looked down upon by his colleagues in the tourism world for being too caring about his country's environment, his connections with the WWF think otherwise, and often fund his attempts at sustainability.

Hon. Karerwa Mo-Mamo

A distant relative of President Nkurunziza, Karerwa has the monopoly on business real estate in Gitega. Any building that is remotely related to anything dealing with commerce, trade, or business of any kind can somehow be traced to Karerwa. Although she is incredibly affluent- especially when compared to the majority of people living in Burundi- she is extremely thrifty, and is pushing for a capitalist agenda in Burundi for the sake of her investments. None of it has been proven, but rumor has it her son- commonly known as Vizi- is connected with smugglers along the Rwandan border.

18

Hon. Victor Burikukiye

Son of the Chief of the Batwa tribe, Victor fights for the rights of his tribe, a pygmy people, who face extreme poverty, marginalization, and a lack of access to everything from health care to running water. Victor showed significant intellectual prowess as a young boy growing up in the bush, causing his family to gather the funds to acquire legal documentation for him and send him to boarding school where he excelled greatly. Although he worked for a time in Gitega for the African Power Platform, he now works in government fighting for the rights of his people.

Kenya Hon. Florence Sergon Jematiah

Originally a socialite in , Florence became deeply involved in Kenyan politics after the eruption of violence caused by Boko Haram resulted in the deaths of three of her nieces in the northern part of Kenya. Florence became initially involved in politics through her position as minister of finance in Nairobi’s regional government. With a strong head for numbers, Florence hopes to undermine terror organizations such as Boko Haram through economic power dynamics.

Hon. Oburu Oginga

Oburu is from a rural farming family near Mount Kenya, one of the areas of Kenya that was historically highly populated with white settlers. A descendant of members of the Mau Mau, Kenyan pride and independence is deeply important to this delegate. Oburu’s Bantu roots are important to him as well, and he hopes to see the East African Federation become a realized success. His rural connections with fellow descendants of freedom fighters has boosted him through his political career and continue to be of great help.

Hon. Adan Noor Mohamed

For Adnan, his Muslim heritage and community are central not only to his political aspirations, but to his personal identity. As acts of so called Islamic terrorism break out all across Africa and the middle east, a rise in Islamophobia and hate crimes have pushed this

19 delegate to lobby more and more vocally in terms of Islamic equality, protection, and rights, especially in the historically Christian-dominated areas in Kenya. Adnan sees this position as an opportunity to further the safety and prosperity of his religious brethren on a much larger scale, with the backing of the entire Islamic Kenyan community behind him.

Hon. Wanjiku Muhia

Wanjiku left her high-powered attorney job in Lagos, , to return to Malindi, Kenya and raise her family 15 years ago. Since that time, she has become deeply invested in the children’s rights in her country, especially in child trafficking, child brides, and the sex trade. Wanjiku has been influential in the liberation of over 1,000 children in the past 5 years, and has gained international recognition for her humanitarian work. Wanjiku hopes to extend her work across East Africa, and is highly supported by international humanitarian organizations in this quest.

Hon. Simon Mbugua Nganga

Nollywood may be the most well known and well funded corner of African film and media outputs, but Simon is on a mission to put Kenya on the map with his innovative movies, TV series, and music videos that display African beauty for what it really is- outside of the realm of Western standards. He may not have gained the international traction he has desired during his 20 year career, but he has an immense cult following in East Africa, especially due to his viral mini series following the life of “Todjo Baby”, a young boy who causes trouble in his village. Highly connected with wealthy influencers and celebrities in East Africa, Simon is one phone call away from getting almost anything he wants.

Hon. Fatuma Ali Ibrahim

When Fatuma’s family was killed in a ferry accident off the coast of Mombasa when she was a young girl, Fatuma dedicated her life to putting a stop to the rampant governmental corruption that leads to thousands of road and sea accidents in Kenya every year. While these accidents are largely undocumented and the corrupt politcians who allow public transport to become dangerously rundown go unpunished, Fatuma has worked her way through Kenya’s governmental system as a legal consultant exposing corruption and

20 overthrowing powerful people. She may have a lot of high powered enemies, but her experience has gained her powerful friends in both high and low places.

Hon. Nancy K. L Abisai

Head of the Infectious Disease Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nancy may seem quiet and polite, but come between her and her clinic and you’ll understand why her nickname is “Mkali”. Extremely influential in East Africa’s medical community, Nancy’s current passion project is working with pregnant individuals who are diagnosed with AIDS. It is possible, although difficult in most Kenyan hospitals, to prevent the birth giver from transmitting AIDS to the child, and Nancy is working tirelessly towards making this procedure commonplace in her country. Along with this project is Nancy’s dedicationt to maternal health, women's health, and reproduction rights in Kenya.

Rwanda Hon. Celestin Rwigema Pierre

Deeply involved in the Roman Catholic church Rwanda, Celestin has been an advocate for religious freedom for decades. First in Kigali as a political consultant for the diocese there, and later serving on continent-wide boards, Celestin has come under recent suspicion due to accusations of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. While there may be some gossip circulating as to his trustworthiness in Rwandan political circles, he has the full backing of the Roman Catholic Church in his attempts towards religious rights and equality.

Hon. Kalinda Francois, Xavier

After Xavier’s time at Texas A&M studying Political Science and Economics, he moves strongly to the right politically. Aiming to enhance capitalist enterprises in Rwanda, Xavier invests in startups, entrepreneurs, and political think tanks in order to encourage privatised business. Through this network of connections as well as his personal investment fortune, Xavier hopes to influence the EAC towards right wing policies, assuring his political position later down the line.

21

Hon. Jean Claude Barimuyabo

Jean Claude has come a long way from his upbringing in a slum outside of Kigali. Born into the family of Rwanda’s most powerful organized crime family, Jean Claude received his education on the streets, eventually taking over the nationwide enterprise from his parents. But after his brother’s were killed during a high-profile deal, Jean Claude was forced to take a step back, evaluating his life during his ten year prison sentence. After seeing Rwanda’s prison system from the inside, Jean Claude is now an advocate for prison reform, nationalized rehabilitation centers, and community outreach programs to slums in Rwanda. His support comes mainly from international NGO’s, but his family ties to the drug business remain intact, regardless of his attempts to distance himself from them.

Hon. Fatuma Ndangiza

Once an East African swimming legend, Fatuma enlisted in Rwanda’s military in her early 20’s dedicating her life to serving her people first through the army, and eventually through espionage. After the Rwandan Genocide, Fatuma has worked tirelessly to develop Rwandan civil defense after losing hope in international powers to come to her countries aid. Fatuma hopes to focus on not only developing defense and military power within East Africa, but also fight against rising dictators and other political power threats to minority groups.

Hon. Patricia Mugorenejo Hajabakiga

Patricia and her deceased husband Marco founded an underground socio-anarchist cult in the 80’s called Ubumwe that called for the abolishment of colonialism, and any power structure that could be tied to the western world in any way. During and after the genocide, their group gained traction with Tutsi nationalists who seak to deconstruct not only Rwanda’s government, but across East Africa as well in order to shake off the final chains of colonialism. Currently Ubumwe appears to have rebranded itself into an NGO focusing on community funding and calling for reparations, but due to the mysterious nature of Marco’s death, there is extreme suspicion that Patricia may be up to more than she is letting on.

22

Hon. Valerie Nyirahabineza

The daughter of one of Rwanda’s largest agriculture barons, Valerie has worked her whole life to make her father’s 100,000+ acre empire as profitable as possible. Employing hundreds of workers and providing for her family has always been a challenge, but currently Valerie is forging a new path into the burgeoning world of windmills, solar power, and sustainability in general. The past ten years have seen significant changes in the growing season throughout East Africa, and in an attempt to protect her agricultural investments, Valerie is doing what she can to not only benefit her environment, but also her bank account.

Hon. James Ndahiro

When asked about his past, James Ndahiro will give you a different answer each time. It is extremely unclear exactly where this man is from, and how he managed to become one of the top employees of the National Bank of Rwanda in a few short years, the company's youngest executive at only 25 years old. It is certain that James is charismatic, intelligent, and a hard worker. He rents numerous apartments throughout Kigali, almost all of which seem to be outside of his budget. James has made countless influential friends and benefactors throughout his long career in banking, all of whom know as little about him as the rest, and everyone who’s anyone is waiting to see what James decides to do next.

South Sudan Hon. Gideon Thoar Gatpan

Originally the ambassador for Sudan to France, Gideon was deeply impacted by the civil war and eventually succession of South Sudan. Nearly his entire family has become refugees in the wake of the turmoil there, and any diplomatic privileges he once had have been stripped away. After being an invaluable advisor for Salva Kiir Mayardit during the beginnings of his presidency. Now as a delegate to the EAC, Gideon sees himself acting as an unofficial, covert mouthpiece for President Mayardit in this private session of the EALA.

Hon. Jago Odok Woda Jeremiah

After civil war in Sudan broke out in late 2013, Jago was forced to leave her home and business investments in Omdurman to flee to nearby , seeking asylum. After

23 living there for two years, she became deeply involved with the cult Zār, a cult surrounding evil demons and exorcism. Since then, she has risen to the ranks of high priestess within the cult in Ethiopia, and upon arriving in South Sudan in 2016, took over as priestess there as well. Many politicians say her rapid rise to political power was fueled by her spiritual powers, but her campaigns towards religious freedom and female empowerment has provided her a strong support base.

Hon. Dr. Ann Itto Leonardo

Ann received her doctorate from Hull York Medical School in neurosurgery. She worked in the UK for 10 years at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, gaining a strong reputation. After civil war broke out in Sudan, Ann returned to work with Doctors Without Borders. Seeing her country in shambles, Ann decided to quit practicing in the UK and move back full time to continue doing aid work in Sudan. Ann is incredibly active in the impoverished, war torn areas of Sudan, focusing mainly in Juba. She has the full support of the South Sudanese lower middle class population backing her international endeavors.

Hon. Gabriel Garang Aher Arol

Head of the gang Westlife, Gabriel has pulled his life together from the ashes of the Sudanese civil war, and made himself a more than comfortable life as a result. Although he lacks technical influence in a business sense, his army of young boys and his domination of the import market has made Gabriel more or less a familiar name in any South Sudanese household. In a country so torn by war and instability, these gang markets and communities lend a structure- however dangerous and harmful- that attracts countless youth. Gabriel maintains a considerable amount of charity projects throughout South Sudan- some say to keep the government off his back- and has access to anything he may want or need at a moments notice.

Hon. Thomas Deng Dut Gatkek

The direct rival of Gabriel, Thomas is the leader of G-Unit, a gang equal to Westlife in size and influence, but younger and more unstable. Thomas may lack the regard Gabriel has gained from before the civil war even began, but he makes up for that with his family ties. The Gatkek family is extremely influential in government both in Sudan and in South

24

Sudan, a fact Thomas uses to his advantage often. These men work together peacefully to keep up appearances, but put them alone in a room together and who knows what may happen.

Tanzania Hon. Mohamed Habib Mnyaa

One of the most prominent figures behind the scenes for Tanzania’s center-right opposition party Chama cha Chadema, Mohamed has been involved in Tanzanian politics since the dark economic times of the 90’s. Mohamed is vehemently anti-corruption, cracking down on corruption during his time as minister of home affairs is Bagamoyo, Morogoro, and Mbeya. As the corruption of high ranking government officials continues to grow, Mohamed sees the end of corruption as essential to uniting East Africa into one federation, his ultimate goal.

Hon. Nkuhi Fancy Haji

Nkuhi was raised on the streets of , her family heavily involved in organized crime. After her mother passed away, Nkuhi rose to the position of Director of Tanzania’s largest network of organized crime. Since her rise in political stature, Nkuhi no longer maintains public ties with her business, but there is deep suspicion that she is still acting madam. Nkuhi is a strong proponent of women’s rights, gender equality, and pushing against the often conservative, male-dominated culture of East Africa.

Hon. Maryam Ussi Yahya

A graduate of the Slade School of Fine Arts with a PhD in visual art, Maryam has been deeply passionate about African art, music, and culture from her childhood as the daughter of two artists. After receiving her degree, Maryam traveled all across the continent, developing galleries, preserving and archiving pieces, and investing in local artists from numerous different countries. Maryam now lives in Arusha, focusing on revitalizing and reviving African art, especially in backlash to colonial and european influences on the continent at large.

Hon. Omar Adam Kimbisa

25

The son of a once-wealthy sisal farmer, Omar’s family went from the pinnacle of wealth to near poverty after Nyerere’s land nationalization in the early 70’s. After his family lost their plantation, Omar was forced to work his way through school, support his siblings, and maintain what was left of his family's finances. He worked his way into politics, becoming regional commissioner of Iringa. He’s taken a firm stance against nationalization of property, and works to protect the working class.

Hon. Angela Charles Kizigha

Angela is originally from the Mmeru land just outside of Arusha. Her family has a large history of agriculture and trading with the Maasai people who inhabit the nearby area. As a child she had an affinity for livestock, which has blossomed into her founding “Kuku Mkubwa”, an enormous poultry business that spans throughout Northern Tanzania. She has amassed a significant amount of wealth, land, and influence, as chicken is a staple of up scale Tanzanian cuisine.

Hon. Perpetua Kessy Nderakindo

Sister Superior of Chama Cha Mariamu Mtakatifu (Community of St Mary of Nazareth and Calvary) in Dar es Salaam for the past 10 years, Perpetua is a devout Catholic with a mission to serve her community in the capital city. She is head of multiple charities designed to educate and support young men and women around the city and set them up for prosperity as opposed to poverty, which is often the case amongst the citizens of Dar. Devoted to her work and her convent, Perpetua has a clean record in any regard, and is beloved by countless men,women, and children across the country and beyond.

Hon. Maryam Ussi Yahya

After working closely with the development group for Mpesa in Tanzania (a money wiring service which revolutionized the way East Africans use money), Maryam has been actively collaborating with Vodacom in an attempt to switch from a voucher style phone plan to a plan based system- i.e instead of users buying pay as you go credit stubs, they sign up for a monthly service offer as is common in many countries. If this plan takes off, Maryam is set to profit heavily from it, and Vodacom is paying her generously for her work.

26

Uganda Hon. Christopher Opoka-Okumu

Christopher is a farmer for Alliance Maize in Hoima. He farms approximately 10,000 acres dedicated to the production of maize, and has been in the business since 2015 when Alliance came to Uganda. Christopher has made a positive impact on his community, by employing hundreds of people under safe and well paid conditions and is very well respected within his community. Politically he hopes to increase international trade in East Africa, as well as domestic increase in agricultural infrastructure.

Hon. Susan Nakawuki Nsambu

Once head of surgery at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Susan has since moved back to Uganda after working in Saudi Arabia for 15 years. After the death of her young niece to tuberculosis, Susan realized the great need for medical personnel in Uganda, as well as the administrative capacity to manage the resources the country has. Susan now works as a consultant for the Ugandan Ministry of Health, using her contacts in the Middle East to grow the Ugandan healthcare system as much as possible, and hopefully in East Africa as a whole.

Hon. Fred Mukasa Mbidde

Fred was the Inspector General of Police in Uganda in the 1990’s, living near its headquarter in Kampala until the present day. During his time as IGP, Fred traveled throughout his country, seeing some of the worst his country had to offer. Although to many this would be highly discouraging, Fred saw it as an opportunity to improve his country from this inside out. He sees colonialism, imperialism, and european-induced capitalism to be at the heart of many Ugandan issues, and as a delegate for the EAC, he wants to cut this poisonous influence out of East Africa as a whole.

Hon. George Odongo Stephen

George found his interest in politics through his background in journalism. He was editor and chief for from 1991 through 2003, focusing closely on political issues, especially surrounding Museveni’s presidency. George has often toed the

27 line in terms of holding back his political activism to keep from being arrested by the regime, and in his position as delegate for the EAC, he hopes to increase the freedom of the press in East Africa, supported by his fellow colleagues working in the media.

Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega

Daniel has worked for the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda for the past 30 years, rising through the ranks to claim his spot as Chief Commissioner of Claims in 2014. Due to his dedication and work ethic, he has amassed a significant number of clients across Uganda who he manages to, shall we say, get out of tricky situations. It’s no coincidence that he has climbed as far as he has in this agency, and is in such a favorable position with government officials across the board. But when it comes to his anti corruption counterparts in the EAC…. Daniel may need to watch his step.

Hon. Margaret Nantongo Ziwa

When the head of N’gombe LTD is introduced at bovine events across the country as well as internationally, Margaret Ziwa is not exactly what springs to mind immediately. Despite the male dominated field she is part of, Margaret has made her mark in the bovine field by forging a path with China’s leather market. She imports to China two times more than the rest of her competitors combined. This has given her a more than comfortable lifestyle, as well as many international connections. Is this above board legally? Maybe… Has it worked for Margaret thus far? Absolutely.

Hon. Omar Nusura Tiperu

Head of the National Organization of Trade Unions in Uganda, Omar has survived two attempted assassinations leading up to 2019, as well as a failed coup, and is still an active leader who fights for equity, justice, and an end to discrimination in the workforce. Originally based in sheet metal production, Omar has raised himself from being a day laborer in a factory to being head of the most influential union in Uganda. This comes with an abundance of friends, as well as enemies, especially in the Ugandan government.

28

Bibliography

1. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-colonization-of-africa.html

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scramble_for_Africa

3. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13085064

4. https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/6031c3a2-ada9-42b4-8045- 52006e2a2b07/the-berlin-conference-of-1884-1885/

5. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/atlantic-conf

6. http://www.kenyarep-jp.com/kenya/history_e.html

7. https://www.britannica.com/place/Rwanda

8. http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/education/rwandagenocide.shtml

9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14069082

10. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://come2eastafricaxd.weebly.com/upload s/4/8/4/5/48454765/9045382_orig.jpg&imgrefurl=https://come2eastafricaxd.weebly.c om/natural- resources.html&h=438&w=613&tbnid=1O1t0_KVaFsi8M:&q=natural+resources +of+east+africa&tbnh=152&tbnw=214&usg=AI4_- kS5E2es9o4a1JJ2XR5nks98skWs2Q&vet=1&docid=a7IwSVDu- zLxJM&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwip5c61pf3eAhWsVN8KHe8XAloQ9QEwAHoECAY QBg

11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sudan

12. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania/History#ref281828

13. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html

29