E. Africa court throws out EPA petition case

DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE East African Court of Justice has declined to grant orders to stop the EAC partner states which have not yet signed the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) from signing the document and those who have already signed it from carrying out any further procedures and processes.

The First Instance Division declined to grant orders sought by one Castro Pius from Tanzania, who filed the case arguing that the signing would cause irreparable injury.

The Court also declined to grant the order sought by Pius directing the Secretary General to withdraw forthwith from any negotiations initiated with the EU in view of the 17th Extra-ordinary Summit decision aforesaid until a final decision on the Reference is delivered.

The EAC Member States which have not signed include the Republics of Burundi, South Sudan and Tanzania and Uganda. Kenya and Rwanda have already signed the document. The Court in its ruling said that the Applicant has failed to establish an irreparable injury that he would suffer that could not be compensated by an award of damages if the injunctive order sought is not granted.

Earlier, Mr Pius argued in his application, that he allegedly stands to suffer irreparable economic loss and serious violation of his rights under the Treaty, if the Partner States sign the EPA. It was also in the Applicant’s further contention, that the way some Partner States had acted individually in signing the EPA was harmful to the Community and to the East African economy.