Rwanda and Burundi EAC Talks On
Negotiations to admit both Burundi and Rwanda into the East African Community (EAC) were in high gear over the weekend in the Tanzanian town of Arusha. Kenya's East African and regional co-operation minister, who is also the EAC Council of Ministers" chairperson, Mr. John Arap Koech, launched the talks that lasted for three days. Both Rwanda and Burundi applied to join the regional bloc in 1996 and 1999 respectively but their admission was delayed to allow the countries fulfill requirements for integration. The two countries' admission is widely expected to be endorsed in November at the Heads of State summit.
If Rwanda and Burundi are approved to join the EAC, membership of the Community will increase to five with a total population of over 120 million. This will mean an increase in business opportunities for the regional industries and commercial activities, and free movement of their people across the five borders.
A Call to African Leaders
Many African leaders are known to stick to power claiming that they extended their terms due to public demand. “How can one categorically prove that the people want their leader to stay on for another term?” asks President Kagame who promises not to seek re-election at the end of his two-term period. Kagame urges African leaders to initiate and nurture structures that would improve their economies and also prepare to retire as stipulated in their respective constitutions. Leaders should desist from taking their citizens for granted.
Press Freedom
Egyptian independent and opposition newspapers suspended publication on Sunday protesting against a draft press bill which allows jail sentences for journalists and prevents them from investigating fraud. Only the state-owned papers and one independent newspaper close to the regime were seen on Cairo news stands.
The law, which leaves prison sentences to judges’ discretion rather than abolishing them altogether, goes against promises made by President Hosni Mubarak during his election campaign in 2005 to abolish jail sentences for journalists. On June 26, the editor and a journalist from the independent Al-Dustour were each sentenced for an year for reporting on a complaint accusing Mubarak of misusing government money. Three other Egyptian journalists appeared before a criminal court last month for denouncing alleged state-sponsored fraud during the 2005 parliamentary elections.
Rwanda and Burundi EAC Talks On
Negotiations to admit both Burundi and Rwanda into the East African Community (EAC) were in high gear over the weekend in the Tanzanian town of Arusha. Kenya's East African and regional co-operation minister, who is also the EAC Council of Ministers" chairperson, Mr. John Arap Koech, launched the talks that lasted for three days. Both Rwanda and Burundi applied to join the regional bloc in 1996 and 1999 respectively but their admission was delayed to allow the countries fulfill requirements for integration. The two countries' admission is widely expected to be endorsed in November at the Heads of State summit.
If Rwanda and Burundi are approved to join the EAC, membership of the Community will increase to five with a total population of over 120 million. This will mean an increase in business opportunities for the regional industries and commercial activities, and free movement of their people across the five borders.
Efforts to Control Small Arms Trade Collapse
The United Nations Conference To Review Progress Made in the Implementation of The Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects that ended on Friday July 7, collapsed after a small number of states, most prominently the United States, blocked key issues. Moves to sanction global controls on the small arms trade were blocked by Cuba, India, Iran, Israel and Pakistan. The European Union, and many African and Latin American governments, backed tougher controls on the international trade in small arms and light weapons.
A quarter of the estimated $4billion annual global gun trade is believed to be illicit. Since the adoption of the Programme of Action on Small Arms, nearly 140 countries have reported on its implementation, a third of all states have made effort to collect weapons from those not legally entitled to hold them. Over one million people from 160 countries backed the Control Arms campaign by joining the Million Faces Petition, which was presented to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, on the first day of the conference, Monday 26 June.
Kenya and Southern Sudan sign agreement
Kenya and Southern Sudan have signed an Economic Agreement which will establish a bilateral framework for corporation between the two governments. The agreement' will be coordinated by a Joint Commission jointly chaired by Kenya's Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation in Southern Sudan. The agreement was signed by Kenya's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Raphael Tuju and South Sudanese Minister for Information, Radio and TV, Dr. Samson Kwanje on behalf of their governments.
Particular areas of focus include infrastructure development, education, health, governance and the rule of law, trade, investment, industry and agriculture. Others areas include scientific research, culture and tourism. The agreement does not speak about oil importation.
In order to build capacity for skilled personnel in Southern Sudan, Kenya has extended the use of its training facilities to young Sudanese professionals, some of whom were being trained in teacher training colleges, the Kenya Institute of Administration (KIA), the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) and many others.
Aiding the Aider
Action Aid castigates most donor bodies for using aid money to line their pockets. “Aid needs to help the poorest, not line the pockets of Western Consultants,” says Romilly Greenhill,” adding that aid is tied to donor countries’ firms and assumptions that don’t consider the situation on the ground.