COMMON MARKET AS EAC HEADS SET TO MEET IN ARUSHA

 

The Common Market Protocol will be on the radar during the summit of the East African Community (EAC) leaders to be held in Arusha later this month.

Implementation of the key pillar of regional integration, which came into force in July 2010, has been rather slow.

The Common Market Protocol agenda will specifically feature during the Leaders' High Level Retreat, a segment of the two-daymmit.

"The theme of the Retreat this time around will be on the Common Market", an official of the Secretariat told this blog at the weekend. 

Although he did not give much details, the Retreat is expected to take stock of the progress made on the implementation of the  Protocol.

The talks will target key priority interventions to attain full attainment and realization of the Protocol's goals for enhanced integration.

The Protocol envisages free movement of goods, persons, labour, services and capital as well as Rights of Establishment and Residence.

However, the process has been impacted by various hurdles, such as barriers to smooth mobility of labour and capital, among others.

During the Retreat, the leaders are expected to adopt strategic measures to unlock the lags and bottlenecks hindering swift implementation.

The last EAC Heads of State Joint Retreat took place in Kampala, Uganda in February 2018 and focussed on Infrastructure and Health.

At least 286 priority infrastructure projects in various sub sectors were approved for joint promotion and execution.

Underlying the EAC Common Market are principles of non-discrimination of nationals of other partner states on grounds of nationality.

The EAC secretary general Peter Mathuki revealed on Tuesday that the Summit will take place in Arusha on July 21st and 22nd.

This will be the first physical meeting of the regional leaders for years after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic over two years ago.

However, he admitted the meeting will take place at the time the bloc was facing a host of challenges, including insecurity.

He cited the eastern DR Congo, the scene of recent clashes between that country's troops and an armed outfit called M23.

"The EAC is expanding but we have to ensure peace and security prevail. We must take peace very seriously", he told journalists.

Outbreak of pandemics is another challenge, he said, urging the partner states to streamline their health services for preparedness.

Dr. Mathuki noted that although DR Congo has been admitted into the bloc,it may not be fully represented this time around.

The seventh member of the Community has yet to Deposit Instruments of Accession to the EAC secretariat. The deadline is September this year.

The summit may see the EAC Chair President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya handing over the Seat of President Evarist Ndayimishiye of Burundi.

"There is a possibility of President Kenyatta handing over the Chair", he intimated to the media without further details.

The Kenyan leader, who took the EAC Chair in February 2021,will step down next month after the August 9th polls in his country.

The Chair of the EAC Summit is tasked to convene meetings on the regional leaders and maintain constant communication with them.

The tenure of the Chairperson of the Summit is one year and is held in rotation among the partner states.