Don’t fast-track East African Community integration, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund fears that the integration of East African economies may have been built on quicksand and has called for a pause to lay a stronger foundation for its stability. PHOTO | FILE |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By NJIRAINI MUCHIRA

In Summary

• IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said fissures in the bloc over Economic Partnership Agreement, the single tourist visa, non-tariff barriers on movement of people, goods and capital were signs that the building blocks were not firmly in place. 
• While the EAC has achieved major milestones on integration projects like the Customs Union, Common Market, the East African Legislative Assembly, EAC Court of Justice and others, differences on some issues are increasingly threatening the bloc’s future.   

The International Monetary Fund fears that the integration of East African economies may have been built on quicksand and has called for a pause to lay a stronger foundation for its stability.

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said fissures in the bloc over Economic Partnership Agreement, the single tourist visa, non-tariff barriers on movement of people, goods and capital were signs that the building blocks were not firmly in place. 

“Coming from the European Union and a country that is part of the Eurozone, I would certainly stress that making haste slowly is probably the best way to go and consolidate one step at a time, to make sure that the steps you have taken are actually solid, sustainable and will take you to the next level,” Ms Lagarde said while on a visit to Kampala, Uganda last week.

READ: KIGUTA: Zeal to work together as EAC has waned over the past two years

She said the East African Community should focus on consolidating integration gains achieved in infrastructure, the Common Market and the Customs Union integration while going slow on the monetary union and federation projects in the wake of Britain’s exit from the EU.

According to Betty Maina, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for East African Community Affairs, the advice by Ms Lagarde that the bloc should consolidate the realised gains was in line with the region’s aspirations.

“The pursuit of integration must take into account that countries also have different interests. This does not mean we should roll back on progress,” said Ms Maina.

While the EAC has achieved major milestones on integration projects like the Customs Union, Common Market, the East African Legislative Assembly, EAC Court of Justice and others, differences on some issues are increasingly threatening the bloc’s future.   

READ: Protectionism delaying EAC Common Market regime

Kenya and Rwanda, for instance, are at loggerheads with Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi over the EPA deal with the EU. The standoff has caused the Heads of State Summit to be postponed twice.

The Summit, which was slated for early January, was postponed to late January but failed to take place. The Summit was expected to strike a deal on EPA with European Union.

READ: Uganda, Tanzania leaders to meet for EPA talks

Kenya is also accusing its neighbours of failing to support Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed for the African Union Commission chairmanship. Ms Mohamed was defeated by Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat. However, Uganda has since stated that it voted for Kenya’s candidate.

READ: Uganda denies not backing Kenya for AU post