Rift emerges over EA political federation

Geza Ulole · 2013-10-13T03:16:31+00:00

NEWS Rift emerges over EA political federationIN SUMMARY Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda agreed to fast track the political federation, technically overlooking the consensus approach in reaching decisions as required by the regional treaty. On their part, Tanzania and Burundi vowed they would neither recognise decisions nor support the projects undertaken by the tripartite coalition. The EAC faces an acid test in its quest to develop a draft political federation model by the end of October, coming at a time when member states are divided over the pace of integration. Whereas the newly formed coalition of the willing comprising Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda prefer to fast track the political federation, Tanzania and Burundi think otherwise. EAC Secretary General Richard Sezibera said the proposed political federation model will define the roles of the executive, legislative, judiciary and EAC citizens. The model will then be presented to the EAC Council of Ministers, who will in turn forward it to the Heads of States Summit later this year, Dr Sezibera said in Nairobi. He added that member states had reached some level of consensus on the building blocs needed for a political federation such as an agreement on peace, security, defence, good governance and corruption. This will allow member states to develop a sustainable strategy on how to build a united EAC that has many ethnic communities and religions, he said. Dr Sezibera, however, remained tight-lipped over the consequences of member states pulling in different directions. During recent talks in Entebbe and Mombasa, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda agreed to fast track the political federation, technically overlooking the consensus approach in reaching decisions as required by the regional treaty. On their part, Tanzania and Burundi vowed they would neither recognise decisions nor support the projects undertaken by the tripartite coalition. READ: Tanzanias anger over isolation by neighbours Tanzania Deputy Minister of EAC Affairs Abdullah Saddalla said: For sustainability, people of East Africa should decide and not we as leaders. Our partners now want to ignore this philosophy of people-centred integration, and they want to fast track the political federation, without the will of our people, Dr Saddalla said. His sentiments were echoed by EAC Deputy Secretary General Jesca Eriyo who said that successful regional integration would require solid support of the citizens of member states. Additional reporting by Xinhua Can someone spot Sezibera's incompetency on running of the EAC? Rift emerges over EA political federation - News - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

Thread starter Geza Ulole
Start date Oct 13, 2013

Geza Ulole

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Rift emerges over EA political federation

Geza Ulole

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