From Co-operation to Community

In the past, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have enjoyed a long history of co-operation under successive regional integration arrangements.

These have included the Customs Union between Kenya and Uganda in 1917, which the then Tanganyika later joined in 1927; the East African High Commission (1948-1961); the East African Common Services Organisation (1961-1967); the East African Community (1967-1977) and the East African Co-operation (1993-2000).

Following the dissolution of the former East African Community in 1977, the Member States negotiated a Mediation Agreement for the Division of Assets and Liabilities, which they signed in 1984.

However, as one of the provisions of the Mediation Agreement, the three States agreed to explore areas of future co-operation and to make concrete arrangements for such co-operation.

Subsequent meetings of the three Heads of State led to the signing of the Agreement for the Establishment of the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation on November 30, 1993.

Full East African Co-operation operations started on March 14, 1996 when the Secretariat of the Permanent Tripartite Commission was launched at the Headquarters of the EAC in Arusha, Tanzania.

Considering the need to consolidate regional co-operation, the East African Heads of State, at their 2^nd Summit in Arusha on 29 April 1997, directed the Permanent Tripartite Commission to start the process of upgrading the Agreement establishing the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation into a Treaty.

The Treaty-making process, which involved negotiations among the Member States as well as wide participation of the public, was successfully concluded within 3 years.

The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was signed in Arusha on 30 November 1999.

The Treaty entered into force on 7 July 2000 following the conclusion of the process of its ratification and deposit of the Instruments of Ratification with the Secretary General by all the three Partner States.

Upon the entry into force of the Treaty, the East African Community came into being.

30 November, 1993: 1^st Summit of East African Heads of State sign Agreement establishing the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation in Kampala, Uganda.

14 March 1996: Secretariat of the Commission for East African Co-operation launched in Arusha, Tanzania.

19 November 1996: Agreement for the establishment of the East African Business Council signed in Nairobi, Kenya.

28 April 1997: EAC Member States sign Tripartite Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation.

29 April 1997: 2^nd Summit of the East African Co-operation Heads of State is held in Arusha, Tanzania; 1^st East African Co-operation Development Strategy (1997 – 2000), East African Flag and East African Passport launched; and Permanent Tripartite Commission mandated to embark on process of upgrading EAC Agreement into Treaty.

20 November 1997: Chiefs of Defence of EAC Member States meet in Arusha; agree on a draft Memorandum of Understanding for co-operation in defence matters.

30 April 1998: 9^th Meeting of the Permanent Tripartite Commission in Arusha launches a draft Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community; approves programme for its wide publicity; EAC Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Defence signed in Arusha; Tripartite Agreement on Road Transport signed in Arusha; and Inland Waterway Transport Agreement signed in Arusha.

26 May 1998: Donors pledge $1billion for the first phase of the improvement of the East African Road Network at the end of a 2-day conference in Arusha.

30 August 1998: At its 10^th meeting in Arusha, Permanent Tripartite Commission extends period of publicity and public debate of the draft Treaty for East African Community from earlier deadline of 20^th August 1998 to a new one of 30^th April 1999.

18 November 1998: EAC Defence Liaison Unit established at the EAC Secretariat.

24 November 1998: 1^st East African Ministerial Meeting on the Lake Victoria Hyacinth is held in Arusha; agrees to develop regional strategy for control of the lake hyacinth.

22 January 1999: 3^rd Summit held in Arusha directs Permanent Tripartite Commission to complete the Treaty-making process by 30^th July 1999; Members States’ Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs sign EAC Memorandum of Understanding on Foreign Policy Co-ordination.

27 January 1999: EAC Ministerial Delegation in London participates in the 2^nd London Financial Times Seminar on East African Co-operation.

25 -26 March 1999: 1^st Ministerial Seminar on East African Co-operation is held in Arusha, devoted to issues of the draft EAC Treaty.

19 July 1999: The 1^st East African Co-operation Media Workshop is held in Arusha; declares that East African media should be at the forefront of regional integration process.

23 July 1999: 1^st Extra-ordinary meeting of the Permanent Tripartite Commission held in Dar es Salaam; reviews programme of EAC Treaty-making process; decides to postpone signing of the Treaty from 30 July to end of October, 1999.

19 August 1999: 2^nd Ministerial Seminar on the Control of Water Hyacinth and other Invasive Weeds in East Africa held in Arusha, approves regional strategy to control the weeds.

29 - 30 September 1999: 13^th meeting of Permanent Tripartite Commission in Arusha adopts draft No.5 of EAC Treaty and schedules programme for final stages leading to signing of Treaty on 30 November, 1999.

18 - 19 November 1999: 2^nd Extraordinary Meeting of Permanent Tripartite Commission in Arusha confirms 30 November 1999 as date of Treaty signing; and adopts an Indicative Programme Action for Establishment of the East African Community.

30 November 1999: 4^th Summit held in Arusha at which Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community is signed.

20 April 2000: 15^th meeting of Permanent Tripartite Commission in Arusha approves revitalisation of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), structure of IUCEA ’s new Board and Budget of US$ 924,811 for year 2000/2001.

7 July 2000: Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community enters into force; new regional organisation, the East African Community, comes into being.

13 January 2001: Council of Ministers of the East African Community is inaugurated in Arusha; holds 1^st meeting and signs documents: Rules of Procedure for Admission of Observers; Protocol on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking in the East African Region; and Protocol on Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing.

15 January 2001: 1^st Summit of the East African Community is held in Arusha; signs Protocols on: Rules of Procedure for the Summit of Heads of State; Rules of Procedure for the Admission of other Countries to the East African Community; and formally launches the East African Community at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha.

29 - 31 January 2001: East African Community Meeting of the Partner States’ Ministers responsible for Trade is held in Nairobi; agrees on removal of all suspended duties; reaffirms commitment to establishment of a Free Trade Area in the region with safeguards for a level playing field and avoidance of dumping of imports from outside the region.

24 April 2001: 2^nd Summit of the East African community held in Arusha, launches 2^nd EAC Development Strategy; calls for its steadfast implementation and declares regional integration will be accorded highest priority.

13 July 2001: Leading East African Scientists and Researchers at workshop held at Lake Manyara Hotel, Monduli, Tanzania recommend establishment of the East African Council for Science and Technology.

30 November 2001: 3^rd Summit of EAC held in Arusha; EAC Heads of State inaugurate East African Legislative Assembly and East African Court of Justice.

21 - 25 January 2002: East African Legislative Assembly calls for faster movement towards EA Customs Union and Political Federation of East African States.