EAC pledges to tackle ‘cracks’

East African Community secretary general Richard Sezibera addressing journalists at Hotel Le Chandelier in Bujumbura, Burundi November 24, 2011. Photo/FILE 

In Summary

• Dr Sezibera said the apparent isolation of Tanzania and Burundi in regional activities through the ‘Coalition of Willing’ bloc spearheaded by Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya had led to some public concerns.

By ZEPHANIA UBWANI
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The East African Community has admitted that recent concerns raised by Tanzania and Burundi that they are being side-lined in some key regional activities posed some challenges to the bloc.

The Arusha-based secretariat had consulted the five partner states on the state of EAC integration, said secretary-general Richard Sezibera, but dismissed any cause for alarm.

“East Africans are urged not to be unduly alarmed because the challenges are being addressed and will be further considered by the coming high-level meetings of the community,” said Dr Sezibera in a statement from Bujumbura.

The coming meetings include one by the EAC Council of Ministers, the policy organ of the community, which will take place in Kampala, Uganda, on November 28.

The recommendations of the ministerial meeting will be forwarded to the EAC Summit of Heads of State set for the same venue on November 30.

Dr Sezibera said the apparent isolation of Tanzania and Burundi in regional activities through the ‘Coalition of Willing’ bloc spearheaded by Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya had led to some public concerns.

“There have been persistent press reports, including misrepresentations of the matter,” he said at the end of the 19th meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning in Bujumbura.

He said: “Burundi and Tanzania have made public their concerns regarding the meetings held by Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.”

He stated that although the ministers from all the five EAC member states committed themselves “to the spirit of consolidating and strengthening EA integration”, they dwelt on the challenges posed by the cracks emerging in the bloc.

“The ministers, in the spirit of consolidating and strengthening East African integration, have exchanged notes on the progress occasioned by the meetings of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda leaders as well as the challenges that have arisen,” said Dr Sezibera.

He said the partner states, in the Bujumbura meeting, committed themselves to implementing the EAC protocols on the Common Market and the Customs Union, particularly laying the requisite infrastructure and removal of trade barriers.