South Sudan's application to top EA president's summit
Apr 27, 2012
Heads of States of East African Community (EAC) will converge in Arusha, Tanzania tomorrow in an extra-ordinary meeting to consider, among others, a recommendation on the application by the Republic of South Sudan to the regional bloc.
By Nicodemus Ikonko in Arusha
and Mark Mugisha in Kampala,
Heads of States of East African Community (EAC) will converge in Arusha, Tanzania Saturday in an extra-ordinary meeting to consider, among others, a recommendation on the application by the Republic of South Sudan to the regional bloc.
All five EAC Presidents from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are expected to attend the one-day session to be held at the Ngurdoto Lodge, on the outskirts of the Arusha town. The leaders started arriving Friday evening.
Information obtained from the EAC’s office of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department, said the Summit was also expected to contemplate four other items on the agenda.
Southern Sudan’s issue would be considered nearly five months after that of the Republic of Sudan was rejected on the ground that it did not meet criterion that established the EAC Treaty.
The Treaty clearly states that, any country wishing to join EAC, should border with at least one of the five member states.
By the time of the application’s submission, Omar Al-Bashir, Northern Sudan could not pass the geographical test.
The only nearest option for Sudan to be considered is if South Sudan’s application gets blessing from EA leaders, EAC sources hinted .
However, South Sudan’s application comes at a time when it’s on the verge of full-scale war with its northern neighbour and the situation is expected to come up for scrutiny at the EAC Heads of State meeting.
The latest country in Africa and the world at large, South Sudan, came into being on July 1, 2011 after a decade of bloody-war with Northern Sudan.
Other items to be considered by the Summit include recommendation on the appointment of one new Deputy Secretary General(Political Federation) in place of Beatrice Kiraso of Uganda who has completed her two-non renewable three year contract and renewal of the contract of Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors) Jean Claude Nsengiyumva from Burundi.
Sources say Uganda has proposed a name of former State Minister and ex-Member of Parliament woman for replacement of Kiraso Government sources in Kampala tipped that the front runner for the position is Jessica Eriyo, a Ugandan educator, social worker and politician.
She served as the State Minister for the Environment in the Ugandan Cabinet, from 2006 until 2011.In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, she was dropped from the cabinet and was replaced by Flavia Munaaba.
She also served as the elected Member of Parliament representing Adjumani District Women's Constituency, from 2001 until 2011. In the 2011 national elections, she lost to Jesca Ababiku, an Independent candidate, who is the incumbent MP.
The appointment of new Deputy Secretary General is expected to shake-up changes of duties of other three deputy secretaries general.
The Presidents will also consider the EAC Vehicle Load Control Bill of 2012 and the report on the attainment of EAC Single Customs Territory.
The Summit is preceded by 24th extra-ordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers.
East African News Agency (EANA)