Burundi failing the EAC

Ashasembeko · 2018-12-04T10:26:03+00:00

EAC state of affairs The road towards the Federation of East African states is clearly headed towards a rocky path. Of late, the East African Community has been marred with selfish and nationalistic activities promulgated by the partner states. We have witnessed trading spats among the East African originals – Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Tariffs on the movement of goods and people (which are by the way against the East African Customs Union protocol signed and ratified by all partner states) have been at the core subject of their difference. Question is how does the EAC expect to implement common market agenda without the free movement of goods and people? It is no secret that the EAC is facing commitment issues. When EAC was revived in July 2000, the founders had foreseen that such issues may arise and that is why they had set up a mandatory heads of states summit which was to be held every year, as a platform where the heads of states or representatives and various stakeholders would meet to deliberate on the challenges of the integration. This method had proven successful until last week when Burundi unprecedentedly boycotted the summit by sending no representative. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda were represented by their member states where as Rwanda and South Sudan was represented by ministers of foreign affairs and trade respectively. According to the treaty that established the EAC, every country has to be present or be represented when decisions are made during the summit; Burundi’s absence meant every decision that was to be made was to be regarded as “null and void”. This forced the participating members to postpone the summit to a month later due to a lack of quorum. Mind you, Presidents Museveni and Kenyatta travelled all the way to Arusha for the summit only to achieve nothing. Reasons for the boycott It should be noted that President Nkurunziza of Burundi had written an open letter to the current chairman of the EAC, President Museveni requesting him to postpone the summit to a later date with reasons that his government had received the invitation letter late which gave them a short period of time to be ready and prepare for the summit. His request was denied after President Museveni wrote back to him arguing that Burundi had been aware of the summit because the agenda and other items were discussed in various sectoral council meetings, which the Burundi delegation attended. The real reason behind the boycott is said to be their dissatisfaction with the agreements reached in relation to the Burundi crisis facilitated by Former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa. Another reason is said to be their (Burundi’s) unwillingness to allow Rwanda, to take the reins of the EAC chairmanship because of their never-ending bad blood with the Rwandan government Is Burundi the black sheep of the EAC? One thing that has proven to be crystal clear is that Burundi is the least committed and the most burdensome member of the EAC. She is the biggest defaulter in terms of budget contributions. In 2016/2017 financial year, she did not remit a single penny to the EAC. In 2017/2018, she paid approximately $500,000 which was in stark contrast to the needed $12 million ought to be paid by each member state. In the current financial year, reports indicate that she has not remitted any money to the EAC budget yet. Burundi’s commitment to the bloc was put to question after she petitioned to join SADC last year. Burundi has also been lagging behind in ratifying treaties – For instance it is the only EAC member state that has not ratified the Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) Currently a huge chunk of the funds have been spent to mediate and facilitate the Burundi crisis, and Burundi has so far shown no commitment and cooperation to work with on the proposed recommendations to solve the crisis. “BEXIT” It’s high time other EAC partner states start acting on the Burundi situation. They need to show the Burundi government that their sill games cannot and will not be tolerated. Article 146 of the EAC treaty stipulates that “The Summit may suspend a Partner State from taking part in the activities of the Community if that State fails to observe and fulfil the fundamental principles and objectives of the Treaty including failure to meet financial commitments to the Community within a period of eighteen (18) months.” This very well qualifies for a #BEXIT – A Burundi Exit. Methinks it needs to happen sooner rather than later ONE PEOPLE ONE DESTINY!!

Thread starter Ashasembeko
Start date Dec 4, 2018

Ashasembeko

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Burundi failing the EAC

Ashasembeko

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