Category: News

{{Following the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the East African Heads of State at Arusha in Tanzania today 28th April 2012, a Joint communiqué has been released expounding on details of the deliberations. Below is a complete extract of the document. }}

The East African Community Heads of State, their Excellencies President Mwai Kibaki of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the summit, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda and first Vice President HE. Thérence Sinunguruza of the Republic of Burundi held the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania on 28th April 2012.

2 The Heads of State and Government met in a warm and cordial atmosphere.

3 The Summit commended the Council of Ministers for taking the lead in the elimination of non tariff barriers to enhance free circulation of goods and services in the community and directed that decisions taken to this effect be implemented expeditiously.

4 The summit commended hon. Beatrice B. Kiraso who was completing her term of office as deputy secretary general of the east African community in charge of political federation for her exemplary service during the past six years. The summit wished Hon. Kiraso well in her future endeavours.

5 The summit noted that the contract for the executive director of the civil aviation safety and security oversight agency (CASSOA), Mr. Mtesigwa Maugo was due to expire in May 2012.

6 The Summit commended Mr. Mtesigwa Maugo for his outstanding service to the community and wished him well in his future endeavors.

7 The Summit appointed Hon. Jesca Eriyo from the Republic of Uganda new deputy Secretary General of the East African Community with effect from 30th April 2012.

8 The Summit renewed the contract of Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva as deputy Secretary General for a final term of three years with effect from 30th April 2012.

9 The Summit directed the Secretary General to deploy the Deputy Secretaries General to different departments.

10 The Summit received a progress report of the Council of Ministers on the attainment of a single customs territory.

11 The Summit adopted in principle the destination model of clearance of goods where assessment and collection of revenue is at the first point of entry and revenues are remitted to the destination partner states subject to the fulfillment of key pre-conditions to be developed by the high level task force.

12 The Summit directed the council to initiate its operationalisation and report progress at the 14th Ordinary Summit in November 2012.

13 The Summit considered the report of the council of ministers on the application of the republic of south Sudan to join the East African Community. The Summit noted that the council has initiated the verification process of the application. The Summit directed the council to expedite this process and report at the 14th Ordinary Summit in November 2012.

14 The Heads of State signed the East African Community Protocol on Co-operation in Defense. The summit directed that the protocol be ratified and instruments of ratification deposited with the secretary general by 30th November 2012 and that the negotiations on the mutual defense pact commence immediately thereafter.

15 The Summit approved the proposed remuneration of the Judge President and the Principal Judge for the East African Court of Justice.

16 The Summit reviewed the security situation in the East African Region.
17 The Summit expressed concern on the ongoing conflict between the republic of Sudan and the republic of south Sudan and appreciated the role partner states have played in resolving the conflict in the Sudan and expressed its determination to continue to play this positive role in resolving the conflicts in countries that border the EAC.

18 The Summit urged the leaders of the Republics of the Sudan and South Sudan to return to the negotiating table and find peaceful means of resolving all the outstanding issues in the comprehensive peace agreement.

19 The Summit welcomed the London Conference on Somalia of February 2012 and noted that it marked a turning point in the country’s quest for peace and stability. The Summit further commended the African union mission in Somalia (amisom) working with the transitional government of Somalia for returning peace to large areas of Somalia and calls on the transitional national government of Somalia to consolidate the benefits of peace to the benefit of the people of Somalia.

20 The Summit welcomed the resolution by the East African Legislative Assembly for expediting amendment of the treaty for the establishment of the East African Community to extend jurisdiction of the east African Court of Justice or the conclusion of the protocol on this matter.

The summit noted the need to look into the matter of extending this jurisdiction to cover, among others crimes against humanity. The summit directed the council of ministers to consider this matter by end of May 2012 and report to an Extraordinary Summit to be convened immediately thereafter.

21 The Summit resolved to hold a dedicated session on infrastructure development and financing in the region at the 14th ordinary summit in November 2012.

22 Their Excellencies, President Mwai Kibaki of the Republic of Kenya and chairperson of the summit, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, and First Vice President Rt. Hon. Therence Sinunguruza of the republic of Burundi thanked their host, His Excellency President Jakaya Mrisho kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, for the warm and cordial hospitality extended to them and their respective delegations during their stay in Arusha.

{{The Japan International cooperation Agency JICA has donated fertilisers to the ministry of agriculture aimed at boosting farm productivity in Rwanda.}}

The Ministry of Agriculture has in place a program that provides fertilizers to grassroots level for access to farmers.

The fertilizer donated is of the form of NPK valued at about US$ 2.3Million.

Kunio Hatanaka the Japanese Ambassador to Rwanda, noted that his country offered the fertilizers to Rwanda because the country has fertile soils yet Rwanda uses too much money to import food.

Rwandans should be able to sustain themselves in terms of food supplies.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture Ruzindaza Ernest said the fertilizer arrived in Rwanda in February, “it’s not the first time JICA has extended such help–It started in 2006 and 2008.”

The fertilizer will help us increase farm production and improved farming practices.

{{The High Court has ruled against requests submitted by controversial genocide suspect Dr. Léon Mugesera who had insisted his trial to be conducted in the French Language.}}

This follows an appeal by Mugesera against the ruling of the Nyarugenge court of higher instance which had also ruled that his trial be conducted in kinyarwanda language.

The High court president Athanase Bakuzakundi on 27th April submitted that Mugesera Dr. Mugesera will be tried in Kinyarwanda language, a native language he understands.

The court also ruled that Dr. Mugesera will remain in custody while on trial.

Dr. Mugesera argued that he had spent 20years in Canada where he only used French language and thus requested the Rwandan court to conduct his trial in the French language he understands.

The Rwandan constitution provided for a right to suspects to be tried in a language they understand.

His case will proceed on 9th May.

{{Kigali will host a six-day 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin scheduled for 30th April to 5th May 2012 at Umubano Hotel organised by Lake Victoria Basin Commission.}}

The Ministerial session will take place on 4th May 2012, followed by a Ministerial Study Tour to selected activities of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission in Rwanda.

The session of Senior Officials will take place 30th April –1st May, followed by the session of the Coordination Committee (Permanent Secretaries) to be held on 2nd – 3rd May 2012.

It will be the first such meeting to take place outside Kisumu, Kenya, the seat of the Commission, following the decision of the 9th Meeting of the Sectoral Council to commence the rotation of such meetings in all the five Partner States.

The rotation will enhance the visibility of the Commission in the communities it serves and allow participants to visit its activities on the ground.

The 10th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin will consider several reports on the status of implementation of decisions of the 9th Sectoral Council of Ministers; and the Annual Report 2010-2011 of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission.

The meeting shall also consider a report from the Office of the Executive Secretary and a report on the Commission’s seven key projects and programmes: the Partnership Consultative Committee; the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project Phase II (LVEMP II); the Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Project (MERECP); the EAC/AMREF Lake Victoria Partnership on HIV/AIDS in Lake Victoria Basin; the Lake Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation Programme Phase II (LVWATSAN II); the Maritime Transport, Safety and Security on Lake Victoria (MCSLV); as well as the Transboundary Water for Biodiversity and Human Health in the Mara River Basin (TWBHH-MRB).

The Ministerial Study Tour shall include visits to selected activities of LVEMP II and LVWATSAN II.

{{President Kagame has arrived in Arusha, Tanzania today where he will attend the annual 10th Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State on Saturday.}}

Also in attendance will be the President of Kenya and Chairperson of the EAC Summit, Mwai Kibaki, President of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The heads of state will consider among others; the appointment of a new Deputy Secretary General from Uganda, renewal of Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva (Deputy Secretary General – Productive and Social Sectors) contract.

They will also consider a report of the Council of Ministers on the proposed attainment of a Single Customs Territory, signing the protocol on Co-operation in Defence and a report of the Council of Ministers on the application by the Republic of South Sudan to join the East African Community.

The 24th meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers followed by the Permanent Secretaries session will also be underway.

Rwanda has been a member of the EAC since 2007.

Set up in 1999 the EAC is the regional intergovernmental organisation for the five partner states with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, and aims at deepening co-operation among others, political, economic and social fields for their mutual benefit.

As a result the EAC countries established a Customs Union in 2005 and a Common Market in 2010.

The next phase of the integration will see the bloc enter into a Monetary Union and ultimately become a Political Federation of the East African States.

{{IN Britain, one of the busiest shopping streets has been sealed off by police. A police negotiator has been sent in after reports a man, strapped up with petrol canisters, was threatening to blow himself up at an office block in London’s Tottenham Court Road.}}

Shoppers and nearby businesses had to be evacuated.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said it was “too early to say if the suspect was armed or indeed had taken any hostages”.

Abby Baafi, who works for Advantage, a company which offers HGV courses, told the Huffington Post UK, whose staff were ordered out of their offices next door: “I recognised him because he was one of our previous customers but he is not quite stable – mentally stable.

“He turned up, strapped up with gasoline cylinders, and threatened to blow up the office.

“He said he doesn’t care about his life. He doesn’t care about anything, he is going to blow up everybody.”

She said the man had failed an HGV training course and wanted his money back.

{{The high court has sentenced Ntaganda Bernard to four years in jail and a fine of Frw 100,000. However, Ntaganda did not appear in court this Friday.}}

High court rejected an appeal by Politician Ntaganda Bernard the founder of a political party PS-Imberakuri.

Prosecution claimed in 2010 that the PS Imberakuri founder was controlling a dissident faction and was a threat to national security.

Ntaganda organised protests on June 24 2010. The state also charged him with forming a terrorist organisation.

He was later arrested and charged with four counts including terrorism and trying to cause instability in the country.

{{A book by a Rwandan Author, Scholastique Mukasonga has won the “Ahmadou Kourouma” Award at the Geneve Book Fair for her book titled ‘Notre-Dame du Nil’.}}

Mukasonga has authored four books including one titled ‘Inyenzi ou les Cafards’.

The theme for 2012 Africa Book Fair is ….‘Africa, where we’re going there?” It brings rising stars confirmed and literature and publishing in Africa.

The library of African Fair provides a unique opportunity for an audience more each year to discover books that are found nowhere else, including books irresistible for children.

Debates chic and shock on the current literature, but also political, political cartoonists and comics full creation, African cuisine, music … all of which are of African Book Fair, the press and culture one of the unmissable events of the 2012 edition.

{{Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ernest Rwamucyo, received the title “DIPLOMAT of the Year from Africa”, IGIHE has reliably learnt. This is the first time the title has been awarded to a Rwandan Diplomat.}}

The initiative to bestow annual awards for excellence in diplomacy, in recognition of exemplary contributions of diplomats acredited in the United Kingdom, belongs to the Diplomat magazine, a publication for the members of the diplomatic corps, British political and business communities, and think-tanks.

The ‘Diplomat of the Year’ is selected from 164 embassies and diplomatic missions represented in the United Kingdom.

The annual diplomat awards ceremony held at the Langham Hotel in London on Tuesday recognises the outstanding work and achievements of London’s diplomatic community trying to improve the well-being of their respective nations’.

In its fourth year, DIPLOMAT magazine identified 12 categories that recognise various levels of diplomacy.

The annual event is hosted by DIPLOMAT’s publisher, Hugo de Blocq van Kuffeler.

The title “Diplomat of the Year” is bestowed upon just one Ambassador, representing Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa or Americas.

There are also awards offered for the outstanding contribution to the Women in Diplomacy, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Year and the Young Diplomat of the Year.

{{The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) yesterday passed a resolution urging the EAC Council of Ministers to implore the International Criminal Court to transfer the cases of the four accused Kenyans facing trial at The Hague to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).}}

Such legislation if passed would enable the EAC take up and treat matters that affect it in future in a sustainable manner.

The legislator hailed the Republic of Rwanda noting that it was the only country in the region that had not appended its signature to the Rome Statute.

EALAh has thus resolved that the Council of Ministers further submits the resolutions to the 10th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State sitting tomorrow 28th April, to amend Article 27 of the EAC Treaty.

Amendment of the Article shall provide jurisdiction to the EACJ giving it retrospective effect, the Assembly stated.

The resolution moved by Hon Dan Ogalo and seconded by Hon Gervase Akhaabi, received overwhelming support during debate on the floor of the House.

The resolution implores that the process of transfer of proceedings from the International Criminal Court to the East African Court of Justice immediately begins on the basis of the fact that the acts complained of, are contraventions of the Treaty.

The mover, Hon Ogalo noted that it was unfortunate that five years after the disputed elections, the cases at the ICC was still in its inception stages and echoed the sentiments that justice delayed is justice denied.

During debate, Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye noted that it was important to have the cases brought back home to the local setting and urged Partner States to be wary of the content of future international agreements before penning their signatures.

Hon. Christopher Nakuleu said by bringing the ICC cases back to the EACJ, the region would test the effectiveness of the local instruments. He noted that justice needed to be dispensed for the accused and the internally displaced persons.

Hon. Dora Byamukama who was a member of the Observation Mission to Kenya during the elections in December 2007 noted that the ICC cases were more symbolic, failing to reach out to the core and hearts of the Kenyans and urged the EAC to pass legislation on matters of joint interest to the region.

Hon Mike Sebalu called for home-grown solutions indicating that East African solutions must be found for East African problems.

He noted that the African Union would be the next best option to seek assistance where the region failed in its quest to find answers to her problems.

The Council of Ministers through the Assistant Minister for EAC Hon. Peter Munya supported the motion, saying the cases were best suited to be heard and determined at home or at the EACJ – its nearest home.

“We must never allow ourselves to return to neo-colonialism,” Hon Munya reiterated stating that any facts on the ground could easily be ascertained by a court within the local jurisdiction.