East African Court of Justice, 10th June, 2021: The First Instance Division today heard two petitions arising from the cases challenging the Government of Uganda over the plight of Rwandans who were allegedly arrested, tortured and detained in Uganda.
The 1st Application that came up for hearing was filed by the Attorney General (AG) of Uganda, seeking for extension of time to file written submission in support of this Application. The Respondent represented by lawyer Angel Ampurire opposed the AG's prayers arguing that they did not indicate reasons for not filing their submissions on time and that this would lead to delayed justice. The court ordered the parties to file their submissions, adding that the ruling would be delivered in due course.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 10th June, 2021: EAC Partner States have been called upon to exploit the huge potential for export of raw cotton to the world market.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for EAC, Dr. Kevit Desai, said that the region produces 100,000 metric tonnes of cotton compared to an existing export potential of 400,000 metric tonnes.
East African Court of Justice, 10th June, 2021: The First Instance Division has resumed its June-July session in which it shall handle 19 matters only.
The Court started its session with the hearing of Application No. 9 of 2019) arising from Reference No. 16 of 2019) Bob Rugurika and 17 Others vs. The Attorney General of Burundi.
The applicants are seeking seeking interim orders restraining and prohibiting execution of the decision delivered by the Supreme Court of Burundi to seize the moveable and immovable properties of 32 individuals associated with another case in Burundi.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th June, 2021: A five-day meeting of the Sectoral Council Ministers on Gender, Youth, Children, Social Protection and Community Development is currently underway at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha.
The 5th Sectoral Council on Gender, Youth, Children, Social Protection and Community opened on Monday, 7th June, 2021 with the Session of Senior Officials that ended today, Wednesday, 9th June, 2021. The Coordination Committee or Session of Permanent/Principal/Under Secretaries is slated for Thursday, 10th June, 2021 followed by the Session of Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries on Friday, 11th June, 2021.
East African Court of Justice, 9th June, 2021: The President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Nestor Kayobera, today received the Chairperson of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) Mr. George Njooka and his team who paid a courtesy call to learn and identify potential areas where the court and the society could work together.
Justice Kayobera welcomed Mr. Njooka by saying that TLS was a key stakeholder of the Court and assured him that during his five-year tenure at EACJ would be guided by teamwork spirit and good faith among all the stakeholders of the Court, which belongs to people.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th June, 2021: A five-day meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers on EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) is currently underway at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The 31st SCMEACP opened on Monday, 7th June, 2021 with the Session of Senior Officials that ended today, Wednesday, 9th June, 2021. The Coordination Committee or Session of Permanent/Principal/Under Secretaries is slated for Thursday, 10th June, 2021 followed by the Session of Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries on Friday, 11th June, 2021.
Among the items on the agenda of the meeting are the: Consideration of the Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Common Market; Consideration of the Report on the Revised Draft Council Directive on Coordination of Social Security Benefits in the EAC; Consideration of the Status of Partner States’ Contributions to the EAC Budget, and; Consideration of the Draft 2nd EAC Communication Policy And The Draft 2nd EAC Communication Strategy.
Other items on the agenda of the SCMEACP are the: Consideration of a Progress Report of the Technical Working Group on Information Resource Centres; Consideration of the Application of the Democratic Republic Of Congo to join the EAC; Consideration of the Progress Report on the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area and; Consideration of the Progress Report on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Negotiations.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th June, 2021: The EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, today held discussions with US Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and the EAC, Amb. Donald J. Wright in Dar es Salaam.
The two officials discussed potential areas of collaboration between the EAC and USA, namely trade and investment, and democracy and good governance.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th June, 2021: The second phase of the EAC Regional Network of Public Health Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases Project will be launched on 11th June, 2021 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Funded by the Federal Government of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW), the three year second phase of the project is set to further strengthen the capacities of the EAC Partner States to respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases, including bacterial diseases and cross-border epidemics.
…Pledges to push for ratification of Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement
East African Community, Dar es Salaam, 9th June, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has taken over from SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Tax, the Chairmanship of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Task Force (TTF) for the next one year.
Making his remarks during the hand-over ceremony held virtually, Dr. Mathuki commended Dr. Tax for her exemplary leadership over the past year. He specifically noted the commitment and dedication exhibited by Dr. Tax especially when the implementation of agreed activities was impeded by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Mathuki pledged to ensure continued collaboration amongst the RECs for their mutual benefit, particularly in enabling the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) enter into force by championing Member/Partner States who have not ratified the TFTA Agreement to do so in the near future.
“The signing and ratification of the TFTA Agreement is critical as it will pave way for the successful implementation of our programme,” noted Dr. Mathuki.
The Secretary General underscored the importance of the TFTA in improving the economic and social welfare of the citizens of the COMESA-EAC-SADC region through the promotion of regional economic growth by creating an enabling environment for regional trade.
So far, 22 COMESA-EAC-SADC Member/Partner States have signed the TFTA Agreement while 10 Member/Partner States have ratified the Agreement. Article 39(3) of the TFTA Agreement provides for the agreement to enter into force upon ratification by 14 Member/Partner States.
In the EAC, the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have ratified the TFTA Agreement. The United Republic of Tanzania is at advanced stages of the ratification process, while the Republic of South Sudan is yet to sign the Agreement.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
…As Secretariat seeks strengthen cooperation with EU
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th June, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki has appealed to the European Union (EU) member states to lift sanctions against the Republic of Burundi, noting that the country had opened a new page and was ready to move forward.
Dr. Mathuki said that the EU sanctions on the East African were hurting not only Burundians but the people of the entire region.
“I appeal to the EU that we work together and open a new page for the betterment of the people of the Republic of Burundi,” said Dr. Mathuki.
