The European Union and the East Africa Community (EAC) will sign a grant agreement in June – worth a total of 85 million euros – to enhance peace, security, stability and development in the East Africa region.
“The agreement will be signed in Brussels, together with four other regional blocs,” Filiberto Sebregondi, the EU’s head of delegation to Tanzania and the EAC, announced Wednesday.
He believes the support will go a long way towards fostering sustainable economic growth in the EAC.
Sebregondi said that, in total, the EU would sign grant agreements worth 1.3 billion euros, to be divided among the five regional blocs.
The other blocs are the Southern African Development Community (SADC); the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); and the Indian Ocean Commission.
“The agreement is part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Indicative Program for EAC, SADC, IGAD, COMESA and Indian Ocean Commission,” Sebregondi added.
“The grant is also aimed at contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic development by promoting integrated markets, development investment and productive capacities,” he said at a ceremony marking “EU Day.”
Meanwhile, the EU has disbursed 1.5 million euros to Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help thousands of refugees from Burundi.
“The Burundi situation is of great concern to the EU,” said Sebregondi. “We hope the number of refugees from Burundi does not increase.”
Burundi has been rocked by protest since late April, when the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) named incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza – in power since 2005 – its candidate for June presidential polls.
At least 13 people, including two policemen, have been killed – and at least 100 injured – since protests erupted in late April.
Around 400 people have also been jailed since the protests broke out, according to figures given by the Burundian authorities.
Burundi’s Constitutional Court recently ruled that Nkurunziza’s bid for a third presidential term did not violate the country’s constitution.
Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, has been in power since 2005, when he was appointed by parliament following a peace deal that ended a 12-year civil war.
He won 2010 presidential polls after the country’s main opposition parties boycotted the vote amid concerns it would be rigged in Nkurunziza’s favor.
Source: Turkish Weekly
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