Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya are
now the latest group to flout the freedom of movement guaranteed by the
EAC Common Market Protocol. PHOTO | NMG
More than two years after South Sudan became a member of the
East Africa Community, its citizens visiting Kenya and Uganda still have
to pay $50 for an entry visa.
At the points of entry
into the different partner states, this newspaper found that South
Sudanese visiting Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi do not pay any entry visa
fees.
But when visiting Uganda and Kenya, they are required to pay for their entry visa.
South
Sudan officially joined EAC in September 2016, when the country’s
leaders deposited instruments ratifying the Treaty, its annexes and
protocols.
Having deposited these with the EAC
secretary general, South Sudan started the process of filling different
positions that it was guaranteed, as a member of the Community.
First
was the appointment of Justice Charles Oyo Nyawello to the East African
Court of Justice. South Sudan also nominated nine members of the East
African Legislative Assembly and appointed a defence liaison officer,
stationed at the EAC Secretariat as well as a commissioner to the ad hoc
EAC service commission.
While South Sudan joining the EAC represented a boon for some in
the political class and members of the civil and defence services who
have been appointed to jobs, the country alongside its partners at the
EAC Secretariat seem to have forgotten about implementation of the
people-centred sections of the treaty.
Currently there
are three protocols that are integral parts of the EAC treaty. These
include the Customs Union, Monetary Union and the Common market
protocol.
The Common Market guarantees five freedoms
and two rights. These are the right of establishment of a business and
right of residence. The freedoms are free movement of goods, services,
labour, capital and persons removes impediments like entry visa fees.
While
EAC partner states still flout significant parts of the Common Market
Protocol, freedom of movement of persons has largely been respected with
citizens allowed to travel without paying visa fees.
Tanzania
had an exception to this rule; Ugandans going to Tanzania for business
are required to pay $100 for an entry visa. South Sudan, Uganda and
Kenya are now the latest group to flout the freedom of movement
guaranteed by the EAC Common Market Protocol.
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