East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 21 April 2017:
The 6th Meeting of the EAC Chiefs of Prisons/Correctional Services, was held on 20th April 2017 in Port Louis, Mauritius, pursuant to the EAC Calendar of activities for the period January to June 2017.
The meeting was held back to back with the 2nd Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)-Indian Ocean (IO) Chiefs of Prisons and Correctional Services which was hosted and Chaired by the Republic of Mauritius under the stewardship of the Commissioner of Mauritius Prisons Service Mr Premananda Appadoo.
The meeting reviewed the Status of Implementation of Previous Decisions which included Cooperation agreement for the sub sector, Peace Support Operations: Progress on Development of Pre-Deployment Curriculum, Harmonization of Training Curricular, Implementation of Confidence Building Measures(Report of Benchmark Visit to the Prisons in the Republic of Uganda; Report of Mentorship Visit to Mauritius Prisons Service; Report of Benchmark Visit to the Republic of Kenya Probation and Aftercare Services)
The meeting also considered status report on the overdue establishment of a Prisons/Correctional Services Liaison Office at the EAC Secretariat.
The meeting was succeeded by the 2nd ESA-IO Prisons and Correctional Services Chiefs which provided a forum for the various participating states to share information and best practices on various correctional aspects.
The meeting underscored the need for emphasis on promotion of an entire correctional continuum approach that would relieve Prisons of bustling populations and give convicts an opportunity to pay back to society through community service and rehabilitation. The meeting further reaffirmed the need to pay attention to the phenomenon of Children in Conflict with the Law.
The Meetings thanked the EU for financial support towards supporting the implementation of the ESA-IO Maritime Security Strategy through which a special community of practice is being promoted through networking, within a south- south cooperation context.
The meeting highlighted the increasing challenges being occasioned to the penal system by crimes committed in the sea and underscored the need for burden sharing in this process. The Representation from the Indian Ocean Commission also participated in the ESA-IO component and highlighted the ESA-IO Partnership between the EU on the one hand and the EAC ,COMESA,IOC and IGAD on the other in promoting through a multi-dimensional approach, Maritime Safety and Security in the Indian Ocean, critical to the economies of both littoral and inland states. The Outcomes directly contribute to the achievement of the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy.
The meetings concluded with benchmark visits to the various categories of Prisons in Mauritius which have achieved ISO Certification.
The Republic of Uganda, current chair of the African Correctional Services Association, (ACSA), invited all participating states as well as the EAC Secretariat to the upcoming 4th Biennial Conference to be hosted by the Republic of Rwanda as from 15th to 18th May 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The meeting noted this as a key ingredient in promoting a contextualized community of practice in Africa as a Region.
The meeting Chaired by the Deputy Commissioner General of the Uganda Prison Service, Mr. James Mwanje, was attended by Director General of Burundi Penitentiary Administration, Mr Gervais Hajayandi; the Assistant Commissioner General of Kenya Prison Service, Ms Wanini Kireri; the Commissioner General Rwanda Correctional Service, Mr.George Rwigamba; and the Deputy Director General/Finance and Administration, South Sudan Prison Service, Lt Gen Andrew Monybeeng. The United Republic of Tanzania did not send representation.
The meeting was also attended by Senior Officials from the EAC Coordination Ministries, Probation/Aftercare and Children’s Services.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania| Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 21 April 2017:
The East African Community Partner States have undertaken a number of reforms over the past four years to facilitate implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol, this is according to the East African Common Market Scorecard (CMS 2016).
The Scorecard, which is published by the World Bank, says that Partner States have implemented significant reforms in the free movement of Capital, Goods and Services that are enshrined in the Common Market Protocol (CMP).
The CMS 2016, however, notes that there is still cause for concern as numerous barriers remain in all the three areas. Also worrying, according to the Scorecard is the fact that new measures have been implemented that hinder regional trade and investment.
The Scorecard indicates that in the case of free movement of goods, Non-tariff Barriers (NTBs) which often emerge when tariffs have been eliminated – have been addressed more quickly during the 2016 reference period than during the 2014 period falling from an average of 34 to eight (8) months per NTB.
With respect to the free movement of capital, three Partner States – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – have undertaken a total of 11 reforms including measures that enhance the region’s securities capacities by adding a framework for trading in derivatives in Kenya and Uganda.
The findings were revealed during a two-day dissemination workshop on EAC Common Scorecard 2016 that was held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The World Bank team was led by Ms. Jean Lubega-Kyazze, Senior Private Sector Specialist, while the Director of Planning, Mr. Wilberforce Mariki, represented the EAC Secretary General.
The report observes that Kenya undertook three reforms but added one restriction; Tanzania and Rwanda each eliminated one Non-conforming Measure (NCM). It adds that Uganda also had one reform but added one restriction.
Under the CMP, Partner States committed to liberalize 20 capital market operations. However, at the end of December 2015, the reference period for CMS 2016, only two (2) of these 20 operations were free in all Partner States showing no improvement since 2014.
Eleven (11) reforms have been undertaken since the publication of CMS 2014, all in the securities area, notes the report.
Since the publication of the 2014 CMS, both Kenya and Uganda adopted a regulatory framework for derivatives and thus removed two of the restrictions recorded in 2014.
“In the CMS 2016 results, Kenya has met the threshold of no restrictions on the 14 operations measures relating to securities. Uganda also enacted reforms affecting two of the operations but continues to have residency restrictions on the local purchase of shares or other securities and of bonds and other debt instruments by charging non-residents withholding tax rate of 15% on dividends from listed companies while residents are charged 10%,” notes the report.
“In terms of credit operations, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda continue to be open to both borrowing and lending abroad by residents. Burundi and Tanzania both restricted lending abroad by residents in 2014,” it adds.
The report observes that on personal capital operations, all EAC Partner States – except Tanzania – require that all amounts above $10,000 should be declared on exit or entry. However, Partner States do not restrict the operation.
“Tanzania places a $10,000 limit for residents traveling abroad with foreign currency, including to EAC Partner States. Tanzania also provides that funds due from assurance policies taken outside Tanzania may only be transferred into or from Tanzania is servicing such policies is done using externally generated funds.”
CMS 2016 notes that only two (2) out of the 20 capital operations are free in all Partner States, namely external borrowing by residents and repatriation of proceeds from sale of assets. All other 18 operations have at least one Partner State restricting the operation.
The Scorecard, among other things, recommends that to release regional capital for private sector growth, the EAC should prioritize the rollback of laws, regulations and investment codes that impede investment.
On the Free Movement of Services, the CMS 2016 notes that although Partner States have committed to liberalization in a number of service sectors, they followed a positive list approach, scheduling only those sub-sectors they were willing to open up.
“Non-conforming Measures (NCMs) have increased in the telecommunications sector – largely because telecommunications commitments did not take effect until 2015, so all countries were rated as having zero NCMs. The vast majority – about two thirds – of NCMs are in professional services,” says the report.
The report notes that for the EAC to achieve the accelerated economic growth and development envisaged in the CMP, an efficient services sector is key, given its centrality to the proper functioning of every other sector. It recommends the amendment of the relevant provisions on trade in services under the CMP, noting that this will not only deepen integration in services in the EAC, but also greatly boost and attract investment within and into the EAC region.
On the Free Movement of Goods, the report points out that as was the case in 2014, all Partner States have eliminated tariffs on goods originating from within the EAC. All Partner States therefore score full marks in CMS 2016 for compliance with the Rules of Origin (RoO) following the revised RoO.
“Despite this legal compliance, the CMS 2016 results point to the continued use of tariff equivalent measures primarily arising from the non-recognition of RoO certificates among EAC Partner States, thus triggering application of tariffs on goods that would have otherwise not attracted import duties and the application of charges of tariff equivalence,” says the report.
The report observes that Partner States continue to apply charges on each other’s goods that are equivalent to the tariffs that were removed to facilitate free movement of goods.
“These charges include charges levied on imports by various government agencies and local authorities or county governments, road user charges, charges associated with all cases of non-recognition of Certificates of Origin. In total, there were 35 such charges, 28 new charges which were imposed in the CMS 2016 review period and seven (7) charges carried from the CMS 2014.”
The report, among other things, calls for the: elimination of Tariffs and charges with equivalent effect; elimination of NTBs, and; harmonization and mutual recognition of Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Standards (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
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Notes to Editor:
The East African Community Common Market Scorecard was developed as a tool for the EAC Partner States to track their progress in fulfilling their commitments under liberalization under the Common Market Protocol. It thus examines selected commitments made by Partner States, outlines progress in removing legislative and regulatory restrictions to the Protocol, and recommends reform measures. In doing so, it allows Partner States, along with the EAC Secretariat and development partners, to identify key areas for improvement and to chart a path to eliminate remaining barriers to creating an integrated Common Market.
The first EAC Common Market Scorecard was published in 2014 and tracked reforms in three (3) freedoms – Capital, Goods and Services. The 2014 Scorecard assessed de jure compliance in the three freedoms and found several bottlenecks to the Common Market in the laws and regulations of the EAC Partner States.
The second EAC Common Market Scorecard (CMS 2016) builds on the success of the 2014 Scorecard and maintains the focus on the three freedoms. Fundamentals behind non-compliance with conformity measures are identified and appropriate measures recommended for spurring the region’s move towards full implementation of the commitments in the three freedoms.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Nairobi, Kenya; 12 April 2017:
The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko met the Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan in the Republic of Kenya, Dr. Azim Lakhani on Tuesday 11th April, 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The meeting was a follow-up of the Secretary General’s visit to His Highness the Aga Khan on 11th November 2016, where the Secretary General and His Highness the Aga Khan explored the possibility of expanding the Aga Khan Integrated Health Systems across all the EAC Partner States, especially in secondary cities like Kisumu, Mombasa, Arusha, Mwanza, Entebbe, Jinja, Butare and Ngozi, among others.
Amb. Mfumukeko had also requested capacity building support from His Highness the Aga Khan to the East African Community through scholarship programmes to enhance capacity of staff in different projects and programmes.
The two officials discussed in detail the Financing Agreement signed recently between the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the French Co-operation Agency (AFD) for the expansion of hospitals in Kisumu and Mombasa worth USD28 Million. Another Financing Agreement to expand the Aga Khan hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, had already been signed and implementation is on-going.
In Investment Promotion Service (IPS), especially in the areas of Agro-processing by the Aga Khan, Dr. Lakhani informed the Secretary General that currently, AKDN had an Export Agro-processing industry to empower rural areas from production to export. This is already being implemented in Kenya with a programme of 7,000 farmers involved through Premier Food Inc (food processing); Frigoken (vegetable processing) and All fruit (fruits processing), amongst others.
The Secretary General urged AKDN to ensure similar programmes are replicated in other EAC Partner States. In this regard, it was agreed that an EAC Delegation would visit the AKDN Food Processing Plant in Ruiru and Murang’a in Kenya with a view to rolling it out to other Partner States.
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Notes to Editor:
The East African Community and Aga Khan Development Network have a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2012 specifying the areas of cooperation. The areas include the following, amongst others:
(i) Poverty reduction, employment creation and income generation programmes in selected regions of the EAC Partner States through stronger regional and local markets by investing in infrastructure, social and educational enterprises, media and communications, financial services, among others;
(ii) Enhancement of quality standards in the fields of education and health through public-private-partnerships and establishment of Centres of Excellence;
(iii) Promotion of the expansion of the Aga Khan University in East Africa through various campuses; and
(iiii) Creation and promotion of mechanisms for common accreditation in EAC for professional and institutions, especial in the domain of education and healthcare.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Bagatelle, Mauritius; 12 April 2017:
“The recent events [with three acts of piracy off the Somali coasts after five years of calm], reminded us that maritime insecurity remains a major challenge in the Western Indian Ocean. That is why we must not slacken our efforts”.
On the occasion of the opening of the fifth Steering Committee of the Regional Programme for the Promotion of Maritime Security (MASE), on the 6th of April 2017 in Bagatelle (Mauritius), Indian Ocean Commission’s (IOC) General-Secretary, Hamada Madi, enjoined the regional organizations and the countries of the Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, as well as the international community to “remain mobilised in our region that is strategic for world trade”.
Indeed, “our region is crisscrossed by many maritime highways. For our countries, maritime trade, fisheries and seaside tourism are essential for our economies. The added value of the EU-financed MASE Programme lies in the fact that it is covering all aspects of maritime security and safety”, said the IOC General-Secretary. In this respect, he welcomes the operationalization of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar and the Regional Maritime Operational Coordination Centre in Seychelles, two useful tools for securing maritime zones.
“We have a range of myriad issues taking place off the coast of Somalia, that is not only piracy but illegal fishing, arms and human trafficking which continue to challenge the region. I do hope together we shall overcome”, declared Ambassador Tewolde Gebremeskel, Director of IGAD Peace and Security Division.
IGAD thus committed to redouble its efforts to working with the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the IOC within the MASE Programme in order to achieve practical results in the realm of security and governance in the maritime domain as well as in social and economic domains such as livelihoods for coastal communities that are the causal factor of maritime criminality.
Confirming that the root causes of piracy is at land, the EU Ambassador Marjaana Sall recalled that the European Union was the largest donor in Somalia, with over EUR 1.2 billion spent on development and capacity building. She also underlined EU overall contribution to maritime security in the region, in particular with the MASE Programme.
The fifth Steering Committee made it possible to take stock of the progresses of the MASE Programme activities, as well to start the process regarding the next Programmes on maritime security and safety in ports to be funded by the 11th European Development Fund.
The members of the MASE Programme’s Steering Committee noted the IGAD’s commitment to engage with the new Somalia Federal Government at the highest level, and its will to continue engaging with the Federal Maritime Security Coordination Committees and the Regional States, in order to realize optimum Result 1 outcomes.
The Steering Committee also noted with interest the offer by the Republic of Mauritius to host a Center of Excellence for prison staff training. ESA-IO Chiefs of Prisons will visit the Prisons Training School in the course of their 2nd Meeting to be held in Mauritius under the coordination of EAC in late April 2017.
Furthermore, it has been recommended that COMESA and EAC should benefit from the possible synergies in the implementation of their respective activities in the MASE Programme supporting Law Enforcement Agencies, notably the financial regulation institutions and legal and judiciary bodies.
Finally, the members of the Steering Committee support the development of a good collaboration between MASE, through the IOC’s Anti-Piracy Unit, and Crimario, the EU-funded Critical Maritime Routes in the Indian Ocean Programme, that should continue as part of the operationalization of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre and the Regional Maritime Operational Coordination Centre.
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Notes to Editor:
The MASE Programme aims at promoting maritime security and safety in the Western Indian Ocean. Coordinated by IGAD, it comprises five result areas implemented by ESA-IO regional organizations:
Result 1 – IGAD: Alternative livelihoods through vocational development initiatives and advocacy against piracy are supported; maritime coordination mechanisms are reinforced in Somalia;
Result 2 – EAC: National & regional legal, legislative and infrastructural capabilities for arrest, transfer, detention and procesution of pirates are developed and strengthened;
Result 3 – COMESA: Regional capacity to disrupt the financial networks of pirate leaders and their financier while also addressing the structural vulnerability factors and minimize the economic impact of piracy is strengthened;
Result 4 – IOC: National and regional capacity for maritime tasks and support functions are enhanced;
Result 5 – IOC: A regional mechanism for coordination and exchange of information is developed.
The regional organizations (IGAD, IOC, EAC and COMESA), implementing this Programme financed by the EU in the amount of 37.5 million EUR for the 2013-2020 period, are closely collaborating with numerous key players for security and development, including EU missions (EUNAVFOR Atalanta and EUCAPNESTOR), UN Agencies (UNODC, FAO), Interpol.
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Nairobi, Kenya; 12 April 2017:
The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko paid a courtesy call on the Trademark East Africa (TMEA) CEO, Mr. Frank Matsaert on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017, at the Trade Mark East Africa Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
The two officials had a lengthy discussion on a number of issues including the support to the East African Community by TMEA and the importance of Partnership between the two parties.
The Secretary General briefed Mr. Frank Matsaert on the reforms being undertaken at the EAC and that EAC was now ISO certified. He disclosed to the TMEA CEO that the impact of reforms had led to cost reduction in the way EAC does business and emphasized that the reform agenda will continue to ensure efficiency in the use of available resources.
On management of different projects at the EAC Secretariat, Amb. Mfumukeko informed Mr. Matsaert that the Projects Coordination Unit will be fully functional by July 2017. On his part, Mr. Frank Matsaert emphasized that TMEA takes EAC partnership seriously, and congratulated the EAC for passing the EU Fiduciary Risk Assessment, which TMEA supported.
Mr. Matsaert informed the Secretary General that a commitment had been made to support the initial phase of operationalization of the Projects Coordination Unit at the EAC Secretariat. “Already a consultant had been recruited by TMEA to help in the finalization of the design of the unit”. The report will be finalized by end of April 2017, added the CEO.
Mr. Matsaert also expressed his happiness on the video conferencing facility installed at the EAC Secretariat and in the Partner States supported by TMEA that is working and contributing to the reduction of costs.
He made a request to the Secretary General for computation of the savings by the video conferencing facility since it started operating. “There is need to double up the video conferencing facility to allow two or three meetings at the same time.”
The Secretary General and the Trade Mark CEO agreed to work more closely with other Development Partners to avoid any potential duplication of programs. They also noted the need for a joint meeting especially between EAC, TMEA and European Union (EU) to identify areas of joint implementation.
The two officials also agreed to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EAC and TMEA. They identified level of engagement especially at Projects Coordination Committee as one area that needed to be revisited.
Mr. Matsaert told the Secretary General that TMEA is planning to send a high level mission to visit EAC for deeper discussions.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017:
African countries have been called upon to develop the necessary tools to ensure the implementation of the June 2014 African Union Heads of State Malabo Declaration on Agriculture Growth and Transformation in Africa.
Mr. Mbosonge Mwenechanya, the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development (CAADP) Focal Point at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said that African governments need to know where their countries were on the implementation of the Malabo Declaration and why.
Mr. Mwenechanya said that agriculture was the engine of economic growth, development and transformation for most African countries, adding that without visionary leadership, African agriculture would suffer.
Mr. Mwenechanya said that agriculture provides the most diverse base for industrialization and the biggest potential for poverty reduction and employment creation in Africa.
He said that within the COMESA region, for instance, agriculture is the source of 50% of the raw materials for industry and employs 70% of the workforce.
Mr. Mwenechanya was addressing delegates during the opening session of a five-day regional training workshop on the preparation of the Biennial Report on the Malabo Declaration in Arusha, Tanzania.
The workshop which is being attended by delegates from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda has drawn participants from CAADP Member States, African Union and three Regional Economic Communities, namely COMESA, East African Community and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.
In his remarks, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said that the EAC had made steady progress in embracing the CAADP agenda.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Productive Sectors, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Havugimana, Hon. Bazivamo disclosed that the EAC had realized steady progress with the support of the African Union Commission, NEPAD and USAID.
“The EAC Secretariat is working closely with Partner States and has developed key CAADP instruments including the EAC CAADP Compact and Results Framework. A draft Regional Agriculture Investment Plan (RAIP) has been developed and is currently undergoing validation at the national level in the EAC Partner States,” said Hon. Bazivamo.
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Notes to Editor:
The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. In Maputo, Mozambique, in 2003, the African Union (AU) Heads of Summit made the first declaration on CAADP as an integral part of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
The AU Summit of June 2014 gave renewed legitimacy and mandate to CAADP as Africa’s policy framework for agriculture growth and transformation for shared prosperity – the Heads of State adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017:| The Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, has commended the EAC Partner States for their willingness to promote Tourism and Wildlife Management sector in a coordinated manner as illustrated by their renewed commitment in supporting regional tourism development and wildlife conservation, in the overall context advancing the EAC integration agenda.
The Deputy Secretary General, who was addressing Partner States’ delegates attending the just concluded 7th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management in Kampala, Uganda, reiterated the need to continuously market the region as a single destination and the need for the region to enhance its marketing strategies not only internationally but also regionally.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 10 April 2017: The East African Community in collaboration with the Arusha and Moshi Rwandan Community and the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) commemorated the 23rd Anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi on 7th April 2017, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
This year, Rwanda marks the 23rd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Themed “Remember the Genocide against the Tutsi – Fight Genocide Ideology – Build on Our Progress”, the commemoration was an occasion to pay tribute to the more than one million innocent lives lost through the heinous extermination of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.
The commemoration began with a walk to remember from the East African Community Secretariat Headquarters to Arusha City Centre followed by a wreath laying ceremony led by the Regional Commissioner, Arusha, Mr. Mrisho Gambo; the High Commissioner of Rwanda in Tanzania, Mr. Eugene Kayihura; the EAC Secretary General represented by the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo; and the MICT Registrar, Mr. Olufemi Elias.
The East African Community (EAC) staff led by Hon. Jesca Eriyo and Hon. Christopher Bazivamo; Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, participated in a somber ‘walk to remember’ from the EAC Headquarters to Arusha City center.
On return to the venue, the front-liners of the ‘walk to remember’ lay flowers at the Genocide Memorial Plaque at the EAC headquarters, after which commemorative candles were lit in honour of the lives lost during the horrendous genocide.
The commemoration brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders including local government, religious groups, Trademark East Africa, GIZ, Rwandans from the diaspora, Arusha and Moshi Rwandan Community, EAC staff, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, University youth and schools children.
Speaking during the commemoration, Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr. Mrisho Gambo called for East African Community to be at the forefront of preventing conflicts and fighting against genocide ideology and denial in the community that do escalate into mass murders, extermination and the genocide as we experienced in Rwanda in 1994.
“Let me register my appreciation to the Secretariat for having taken it over as EAC family to own this commemoration event as you have demonstrated by hosting us here in your premises’’.
Mr. Gambo urged the EAC Secretariat to continue in that spirit by putting in place policies geared towards preventing conflicts in the region and more specifically to adopt measures to combat the spread of genocide ideology and its denial in the Community.
“I am happy that there is a good number of youth in this room. The youth are usually misled and used in cases of violence, conflicts and as we witnessed in Rwanda the youth were very active in the killings of their peer innocent children during the genocide. It was awful, added Regional Commissioner.
He called upon the EAC leadership to do all it takes to design programs to support the youth to grow into responsible citizens. Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Ambassador Eugene Kayihura thanked the EAC Executive for taking the lead in organizing the event and standing with the Rwandan Community in this year’s commemoration.
Amb. Kayihura disclosed that Rwanda experienced a tragedy in which over a Million innocent Tutsis were savagely exterminated in a very horrific and systematic manner, during a three months’ Genocidal killing from 7th April to 4th July in 1994; meaning on average, 10,000 people were killed per day, yet all this happened as the entire world was simply looking.
He informed the invited guests that for the last 23 years Rwandans chose a completely different path of resilience and courage necessary to get solutions for their problems, rejecting the rotten politics of hatred and divisionism, thus, rebuilding Rwanda from the ashes.
Amb. Kayihura expressed his appreciation to the governments and the people of East African Community for standing in solidarity with the government and people of Rwanda during trying moment. “Not forgetting the African Union (AU) and the United Nation (UN) who have also set apart this day the 7th of April every year on their calendars as a special day to commemorate the 1994 genocide against Tutsi”, noted the Ambassador.
On her part, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo said that as the region and world at large commemorate for the 23rd time, it is important to reaffirm the fundamental truth that we are all created equal and we have certain alienable rights that include the right to life and no one has the right to take it away as it was done 23 years ago from the innocent children, men and women of Rwanda.
“Let’s join the Government and people of Rwanda to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Genocide against Tutsi and to encourage all EAC Partner States to be part of the event”.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector, Hon Christophe Bazivamo said the EAC region in general and the Government and the People of Rwanda in particular ask the world to stand against genocide denial and its ideology and to recognize the incredible bravery of those who rescued others during the genocide – at great risk to themselves and their families.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 07 April 2017: The 35th Meeting of the East African Community Council of Ministers took place from 30th March to 4th April 2017 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Among other highlights was the key resolution of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on promoting the use of Kiswahili and adopting it as one of the official languages of the Community.
The Council considered amendment of Article 137 of the EAC Treaty to include Kiswahili as one of the Official Languages of the Community and directed Partner States to formulate National Kiswahili Language Policies and enhance the use of Kiswahili in official domains as well as initiate the process of institutionalization of Kiswahili as one of the EAC Official Languages through the establishment of National Kiswahili Councils and National Kiswahili Associations.
In August 2016, EALA passed a Resolution to urge the Summit of EAC to amend the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community to provide for Kiswahili as one of the official Languages of the Community.In January 2017, the resolution sailed through at the 4th Meeting-5th Session of the 3rd Assembly held in Kampala, Uganda during which, the lawmakers underscored the need to elevate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of EAC from its current status of lingua franca.
Article 119 of the EAC Treaty, provides for the development and promotion of indigenous languages especially Kiswahili as a lingua franca of the region. Kiswahili is not only recognized as a unifying language spoken by East Africans but it is rich in dialect and expression.
This therefore means that Kiswahili will soon be adopted as an official language within the Community as soon as the EAC Summit of Heads of State amend the treaty to accommodate the new resolution. After amendment, Partner States are expected to facilitate adoption of the language at the national level.
Adopting Kiswahili as the second official language within the region will therefore mean a step towards uniting the people of the region. It will also deepen and widen integration within the region. Embracing the language at the regional level will increase the participation of the people of East Africa in the affairs of the community.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 07 April 2017: The East African Community Council of Ministers has appointed 31 East Africans to various positions at the EAC Secretariat.
The 35th Meeting of the Council which met at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania from 30th March-4th April, 2017 also appointed three (3) members of staff to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and one to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
The Council further appointed four officers to the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, and one officer each to the East African Science and Technology Commission and the East African Health Research Commission.
The appointments to the Secretariat will address a biting staff shortage at the Secretariat which was occasioned by the departure of 26 members of staff due to retirement either on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or the expiry of their fixed term contracts.
The appointments were made after interviews conducted by the EAC Ad Hoc Service Commission which draws Commissioners from Public Service Commissions in the Partner States.
Among the appointees is Mr. Kenneth Apollo Bagamuhunda as the Director General, Customs and Trade to replace Mr. Peter Kiguta who retired on 1st December, 2016. Mr. Bagamuhunda was previously the Director of Customs at the Secretariat.
Mr. Kamugisha Kazaura is the new Director, Infrastructure replacing Mr. Philip Wambugu whose contract expired on 1st February, 2017.
Ms. Ruth Mtoi Simba is the new Director, Human Resources and Administration replacing Mr. Joseph Edison Ochwada who exited the Secretariat on 19th March, 2017. Ms. Simba was until her appointment the Principal Human Resource Officer.
Professional staff at the EAC are recruited on a five-year term, renewable once subject to a mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
The Council resolved that the appointments take effect from 4th April, 2017 and directed the Secretariat to conduct due diligence for the successful candidates before confirmation of their appointments.
The Council further directed the EAC Secretariat to ensure that an induction programme is conducted before the appointed staff assume office.
Full list of the appointed staff is available here
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For more information, please contact:
East African Community EAC Close, Afrika Mashariki Road P.O. Box 1096 Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100 Fax: +255 (0)27 216 2190 Email: eac [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
