{{Presidents of the East African Community (EAC) Partner States will converge in an extra-ordinary session in Arusha next Wednesday (April 30), IGIHE reports).}}
The one-day meeting will be to review activities of the five-nation economic bloc.
Among issues at the top of the agenda of the Presidents will be to consider progress achieved in the implementation of the Common Market, which was signed in November 2009.
The Common Market provides for the free movement of goods, persons, labor, services and capital. It provides for the right of establishment, the right of residence, free movement of services and free movement of capital within the region.
The Common Market is the second point of the entry of the Regional integration project after the Customs Union, which was signed in 2005.
The third phase—Monetary Union—was signed in Kampala in November last year.
According to a press statement availed by the EAC Secretariat, the Presidents will consider report on the revised model structure, road map and action plan for the East Africa Political Federation, which is the final an ultimate objective of the East African regional organization.
The applications of Southern Sudan and Somalia to join the organization will also be reviewed.
However, sources said that current war situations in the two countries may render difficulty to allow any two an entry, at least, at this time of the point and given the all-time low relations among some members of the bloc.
The source also hinted that security situation in the Region will be among critical items on the agenda.
EAC Secretariat and its programmes, which are heavily financed by the Development Partners is also expected to draw attention of the Presidents and consider the way forward. An alternative funding mechanism has been proposed by the EAC Secretariat through one per cent tax collection on all imported goods.
EAC budget is approximately 130-140 million USD which is not enough to implement all the projects and the programmes of the community.
According to the financial year 2011-2012 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in imports survey, EAC collected US $134 million a year.
The meeting of the Presidents is preceded by session of senior officials; the Permanent Secretaries; and the Council of Ministers.
The former EAC collapsed in 1977 mainly because of divergent political and economic views of the three founding members—Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Rwanda and Burundi joined the new bloc in 2007—eight years after the Treaty was signed.
Current fourth Secretary General is from Rwanda Dr Richard Sezibera. The previous SGs were: Francis Muthaura of Kenya (1996-2001); Amanya Mushega (2001-2006); Juma Mwapachu of Tanzania (2006-2011). The Secretary General serves only one term of five years as stipulated by the Treaty.
The next on the line to succeed Dr Sezibera will be from Burundi based on rotational basis.
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