East African Presidents meet in Burundi

Nov 30, 2011

President Yoweri Museveni and his regional counterparts are meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi for the 13th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State.

By Vision Reporter

President Yoweri Museveni and his regional counterparts are meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi for the 13th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State.

Top on the Summit's agenda is the consideration of the Annual Report of the Council of Ministers for the last one year, consideration of reports of the Council of Ministers on the proposed attainment of a Single Customs Territory and the Team of Experts on fears, concerns and challenges on the Political Federation.

The East African Court of Justice is also scheduled to present a report on its achievements during the last decade. The East African Community Development Strategy (2011-2016) will also be launched.

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki is scheduled to take over as chairman of the EAC from his Burundi leader Pierre Nkurunziza.

The heads of State meeting was preceded by the sixth Inter-Parliamentary relations seminar which started on Monday.
The lawmakers deliberated how the bloc’s legislative organ, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), can act as a catalyst to the integration agenda.

This year’s session is under the theme: “the role of the legislature in achieving a political federation” will offer the climax of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the EAC.

Opening the session, EALA Speaker, Abdirahin Haithar Abdi, noted that the meeting and the rest of the activities being organized not only usher in an aura of celebration, but also present an opportune moment to reflect on the challenges while setting the mood for the next decade.

“We had humble beginnings, but we soldiered on to the extent that ten years later, we are now a vibrant and well established institution to whom many are looking to emulate.” Abdi said.
 

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