EAC Heads of State Expected in Tanzania to Address Regional Challenges

By The Inspirer.

The Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) will convene on November 30, 2024, in Tanzania for the 24th Ordinary Summit. The meeting will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the EAC’s revival.

Initially founded in 1967 by Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta, and Uganda’s Milton Obote, the EAC aimed to promote regional integration but collapsed in 1977 due to unfulfilled objectives.

The community was re-established in July 2000 by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, committing to economic and political integration. It has since expanded to include Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia.

Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, outlined the EAC’s integration process, which includes four key stages: establishing a customs union, creating a common market, adopting a single currency, and achieving political federation.

He explained: “The third stage, introducing a single currency, has not been achieved, nor has the final stage of political federation. As Rwanda sees it, it is crucial to strengthen the first two stages before advancing further.”

Despite its growth, the EAC faces numerous challenges, including trade barriers. Goods transported by trucks are often delayed at borders due to non-tariff barriers, hindering the free movement of goods.

Minister Nduhungirehe commented: “Some countries impose non-tariff barriers, such as roadblocks for trucks, causing significant delays in the delivery of goods.”

Additionally, conflicts between member states threaten the EAC’s goals. Rwanda and the DRC remain at odds over conflicts in North Kivu, with mutual accusations of supporting rebel groups—Rwanda is accused of aiding the M23 rebels, while it accuses the DRC of supporting the FDLR militia. These tensions led to the termination of a joint economic cooperation agreement in 2022.

Burundi has also closed its border with Rwanda since January 2024, citing Rwanda’s alleged support for the RED Tabara rebel group operating in South Kivu, a claim Rwanda denies. Rwanda, in turn, accuses Burundi of collaborating with the FDLR, a militia formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The upcoming 24th EAC Summit comes amid concerns over some members, like the DRC, failing to pay required contributions. These funds are essential for implementing EAC projects.

In an interview with Radio TV10 earlier in November 2024, Minister Nduhungirehe disclosed that the DRC is not fulfilling its financial obligations to the EAC, although it contributes to other organizations.

He stated: “To date, they have not paid a single cent to the EAC. It’s not an issue of economic hardship or conflict because the DRC contributes to SADC, ECCAS, the AU, and the UN. The EAC is the only organization they are neglecting.”

The Heads of State will discuss key issues, including boosting trade, collaborative strategies to combat climate change, promoting peace and security, and resolving inter-state conflicts within the bloc.

Some leaders skipped the 23rd Extraordinary EAC Summit in June 2024, which focused on insecurity in eastern DRC. Notably, President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC did not attend or send a representative, protesting Kenya’s President Dr. William Ruto’s statement that the M23 rebels are not Rwandan.

As of now, the EAC Secretariat has not confirmed which Heads of State will attend the November 30 Summit. No leader has publicly declared their attendance or indicated whether they will send representatives.

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