Rwanda admission delays

Apr 05, 2006

Rwanda and Burundi applications to join the East African Community (EAC) have been delayed pending further negotiations.

By Felix Osike
in Arusha

Rwanda and Burundi applications to join the East African Community (EAC) have been delayed pending further negotiations.

This was announced yesterday at the end of the summit of East African Heads of State held in Arusha, Tanzania. The summit was attended by Presidents Museveni, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and Rwanda’s Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, who attended the meeting, said their nationals were eagerly waiting for the final decision when they would be admitted to the regional bloc.

Although in principle they have agreed to admit the two nations, the presidents directed that “the verification process now proceed to a high level negotiating machinery to be spearheaded by the ministers responsible for the East African Community Affairs.”

A joint communiqué read after the talks said, “The negotiations with Burundi and Rwanda on the admission requirements shall commence immediately and the Council of Ministers report on this matter will be presented to the next ordinary summit meeting scheduled for November 2006 for consideration.”

Kikwete said the council of ministers had successfully kick-started the process of admitting the two countries.

Kibaki said the Rwanda and Burundi nationals were being allowed to travel in the region without passports, an indication that they are part of EAC.

On the fast-tracking of the EA political federation, Kikwete said not much consultations had been made because of he elections in Uganda and Tanzania and the referendum in Kenya .

“I believe the people of East Africa should not be denied the right to deliberate on the federation. Leaders come and go but the people will be there.”

Museveni urged the people of East Africa and the leaders to ensure the fast tracking of the federation.

He said, “We are all working for the fast-tracking of the East African Federation. This is the most important project in the history of the black people.

“I am very pleased Presidents Kibaki, former president Mkapa and now President Kikwete have cooperated with me and other leaders of East Africa to revive the dream of East Africa to have one country so that they can face the future with great strength,” he said.

Museveni said because Africa is balkanised in small states, governments cannot stand up against foreign interference in the affairs of African countries.

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