Writes Leo Odera Omolo
The war in Somalia and the Sudanese government application to join the East African Community are some of the top agenda to be placed on the table the forthcoming Summit of the Heads of State of the EAC in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The Summit, according to information emerging out of the Community at its headquarters in Arusha, has in its place full of complex issues that will determine the fate of the regional integration process.
The 13th Ordinary Summit is slated for November 2011 under the chairmanship of President Pierre Mkurunziza of Burundi,will be attended by all the regional presidents, and government sources in Nairobi have confirmed that President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya will be in attendance at the summit an take over as the next chairman.
Top among the issues on the agenda are the Somali war, admission of the Sudan to the EAC and the ongoing war against the Islamist Extremists Al-Shabaab militia in Somalia.
Other issues that the sources at Arusha say need the guidance of the Summit are the concerns and challenges of the political federation. Khartoum’s application to the EAC ahead of South Sudan –its arch-rival- is said to have the backing of Rwanda, but faces vehement opposition from Tanzania and Uganda.
Kenya and the current chair Burundi, were reserved during the recent EAC Council of Ministers crucial talks held in Arusha.
Kharoum’s lack of proximity with other EAC member states to allow for sharing of services is one of the factors cited by Tanzania and Uganda.
Kampala has also been uncomfortable with Khartoum over allegations that Sudan hosted the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army {LRA} that waged a two decade insurgency in northern Uganda.
Khartoum’s poor human rights record also featured prominently during the meeting. Others, however, are of the view that Sudan can only join the community after Southern Sudan, which shares borders with Kenya and Uganda.
But President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was of the opinion that a bigger trade bloc offers more opportunities to regional economies.”We should be looking at it positively even though we are aware there are problems associated with this expansion,” President Kagame said at a press briefing recently in Kigali.
Lawyers and members of legal fraternity and Human Rights group Centre, said the head of states must remind themselves about the description the EAC before deciding whether it is rational to accept Khartoum or not.
“If the EAC it is just is just a name, then any country like Germany,. Nigeria Libya or France and even Italy could one day join the community. I really don’t whether EAC would still retain its name and the same meaning,” argues Miriam Matinda a lawyer with the Legal and Human Right Center.
The head of Information and Publicity at the EAC Secretariat Richard Okoth Owora was non-committal whether the green light for the Khartoum’s application to join the bloc was imminent.
The EAC Heads of state will look into the issues of economic sanction against the warmongering Somali politicians
Observers and analysts were however, quick in saying that economic sanction against Somalia are inevitable taking into consideration the recent Al-Shabaab activities inside Kenya.
The continue lack of security in Somalia is a threat to peace and security, EAC Sect oral Council on Cooperation in Dense recently proposed sanctions against all Somali politicians.
“Lack of engagement in the Somali crisis could lead to instability in the whole of East Africa region. Accordingly, there is urgent need to galvanize solidarity and more resource or this cause,” The Sectoral Council report says.
A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Arusha adopted the decision of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defense and forwarded the same to the Heads of state summit for consideration and guidance.
Though both EAC reports are silent on the form of sanctions to be meted out, sources say it will involve travel bans and probably a freeze on financial assets of politicians considered to be obstacles to the Somalia peace process.
Ends