EAC ministers demand reasons for Tanzania isolation

Delegates at a past East African Community common market protocol meeting in Nairobi. Council of ministers has sought explanation on Tanzania isolation. FILE 

By George Omondi

In Summary

• EAC ministers have asked for explanations on blossoming alliance between Kenya and its landlocked neighbours Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.
• This is the first official hint that the three states – and lately joined by Burundi and (EAC applicant) South Sudan – have been running a parallel integration agenda.
• Kenya and its four landlocked neighbours have signed pacts to build transnational infrastructure, establish a Single Customs Territory and fast-track Political Federation.

The East African Community executive organ has asked for explanations on recent economic and diplomatic realignments that have sidelined Tanzania.

The council of ministers has directed its chairperson, Uganda’s EAC Affairs minister Shem Bageine, to prepare full information on the blossoming alliance between Kenya and its landlocked neighbours Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.

“The Council requested the Chairperson of the Council to provide more information on these developments to the Council at its 28th Meeting,” the ministers said after a meeting.

The statement is the first official hint that the three states – and lately joined by Burundi and (EAC applicant) South Sudan – have been running a parallel integration agenda.

The EAC secretariat has denied any divisions, saying the region’s treaty allows members to sign pacts for implementing milestones agreed at regional level as long as there was room for others to join when ready.

Kenya and its four landlocked neighbours have signed pacts to build transnational infrastructure, establish a Single Customs Territory and fast-track Political Federation in what analysts believe could be motivated by common desire to side-step EAC’s consensus model.

(READ: Presidents agree to speed up EA political union)

They have agreed to construct the Mombasa-Nairobi-Kampala-Kigali- Bujumbura standard gauge rail from November up to March 2018.

The partnership will also see the construction of the Eldoret-Kampala pipeline with feasibility studies for the Kampala-Kigali segment slated for discussion next month.

The South Sudan- Lokichar- Hoima crude oil pipeline will now be integrated into the LAPSSET corridor project by end of the year. The states are expected to confirm their participation in building Uganda oil refinery by October 15.

They have undertaken to sign a deal on budgetary provisions for implementation of electricity interconnectivity transmission and distribution lines by next month.

The countries will introduce Single Tourist Visa by January, implement a single customs territory by next month and eventually let their citizens use national identity as a travel document

The countries had initially assigned themselves a crash programme when they revived integration slightly over a decade ago after the first union collapsed in 1977.

(READ: EAC unity on test as Tanzania faces isolation)

Over the weekend, the ministers called for investment in common infrastructure projects to link all the member states. They also directed partner states to finalise national consultations on Political Federation and submit their reports to the secretary-general by end of next month.