13TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
BUJUMBURA, Burundi, December 1, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 13TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1 THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES, PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI, PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, VICE PRESIDENT DR. MOHAMMED GHARIB BILAL OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, AND PRIME MINISTER RT. HON. PIERRE DAMIEN HABUMUREMYI OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA HELD THE 13TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE AT ROCA GOLF HOTEL IN BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI ON 30TH NOVEMBER 2011.
2 THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.
3 HE PIERRE NKURUNZIZA HANDED OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SUMMIT TO HE MWAI KIBAKI. THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA TOOK OVER AS RAPPORTEUR FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA.
4 THE SUMMIT THANKED HE PIERRE NKURUNZIZA FOR SUCCESSFULLY STEERING THE INTEGRATION PROCESS DURING HIS TENURE.
5 THE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE OF THE ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WITH COMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL FOR MONITORING AND KEEPING UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY’S PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES. THE SUMMIT APPROVED THE EAC INDUSTRIALIZATION POLICY AND STRATEGY.
6 THE SUMMIT APPROVED THE PROTOCOL ON PREVENTION AND COMBATING CORRUPTION AND THE PROTOCOL ON IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY, ITS ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS FOR CONCLUSION.
7 THE SUMMIT APPROVED THE PROTOCOL ON CO-OPERATION IN DEFENCE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 17 TO PROVIDE THAT THE PARTNER STATES SHALL NEGOTIATE AND CONCLUDE WITHIN ONE YEAR HENCE A MUTUAL DEFENCE PACT.
8 THE SUMMIT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SECOND EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY WILL COME TO AN END ON 5TH JUNE 2012 AND THE THIRD EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY WILL COMMENCE ON 5TH JUNE 2012.
9 THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE PROPOSED ATTAINMENT OF A SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY. THE SUMMIT NOTED THE PROGRESS MADE SO FAR AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS MATTER TO THE 10TH EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT IN APRIL 2012 FOR CONSIDERATION.
10 THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED THE REPORT OF THE TEAM OF EXPERTS ON FEARS, CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES ON THE POLITICAL FEDERATION. THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT THE TEAM OF EXPERTS HAD STUDIED AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE FEARS, CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES. THE SUMMIT MANDATED THE SECRETARIAT TO:-
(i) PRODUCE A ROAD MAP FOR ESTABLISHING AND STRENGTHENING THE INSTITUTIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE TEAM OF EXPERTS AS CRITICAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF A CUSTOMS UNION, COMMON MARKET, AND MONETARY UNION;
(ii) FORMULATE AN ACTION PLAN FOR PURPOSES OF OPERATIONALISING THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT OF THE TEAM OF EXPERTS; AND
(iii) PROPOSE AN ACTION PLAN ON, AND A DRAFT MODEL OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE EAST AFRICAN POLITICAL FEDERATION FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE SUMMIT AT ITS 14TH ORDINARY MEETING.
11 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT THAT THE REPUBLIC OF SUDAN APPLIED ON 10TH JUNE 2011 TO JOIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT ACCORDING TO THE TREATY AND RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES, EXPANSION OF COUNTRY MEMBERSHIP OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY TO INCLUDE ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY AT THE LEVEL OF FULL MEMBERSHIP OR ASSOCIATION :-
(i) IS BASED ON CRITERIA REQUIRING SUCH FOREIGN COUNTRY’S-
a) ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY AS SET OUT IN THE TREATY;
b) ADHERENCE TO UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW, OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE;
c) POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE STRENGTHENING OF INTEGRATION WITHIN THE EAST AFRICAN REGION;
d) GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY TO AND INTER-DEPENDENCE BETWEEN IT (THE FOREIGN COUNTRY) AND THE EAC PARTNER STATES;
e) ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A MARKET DRIVEN ECONOMY; AND
f) SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES BEING COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE OF THE COMMUNITY;
(ii) SHALL BE CONSIDERED ON THE BASIS OF THE EAC PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION; AND
(iii) IS A FUNCTION OF THE SUMMIT.
THE SUMMIT OBSERVED THAT THIS APPLICATION DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERION ON GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY AND CONTIGUITY AND CANNOT THEREFORE BE CONSIDERED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
12 THE SUMMIT ALSO RECEIVED A REPORT THAT THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN APPLIED ON 11TH NOVEMBER 2011 TO JOIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO VERIFY THIS APPLICATION ON THE BASIS OF THE CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SUMMIT AT ITS 10TH EXTRAORDINARY MEETING.
13 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE ON ITS ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE PERIOD 2001-2011. THE SUMMIT COMMENDED THE COURT FOR ITS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF EAST AFRICA AND CONGRATULATED THE COURT UPON ITS ACHIEVEMENTS.
14 THE SUMMIT LAUNCHED THE EAC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (2011/12-2015/16) WHOSE THEME IS DEEPENING AND ACCELERATING REGIONAL INTEGRATION.
15 THE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE OF THE COUNCIL’S REPORT ON THE EADB/BLUELINE LITIGATION AND DIRECTED THAT:-
(I) THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF THE PARTNER STATES MEET WITH LAWYERS OF EAST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND THE COUNSEL TO THE COMMUNITY BY 31ST DECEMBER 2011 TO FORMULATE A SPECIFIC LEGAL POSITION ON THE WAY FORWARD ON THIS MATTER;
(II) EAST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK EXPLORES THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING A REFERENCE TO THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE ON THIS MATTER;
(III) EAST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK APPEALS AGAINST THE ORDER OF ATTACHMENT MADE BY THE HIGH COURT OF TANZANIA;
(IV) THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS INITIATES A BILL THAT WILL PROTECT THE ASSETS AND PROPERTIES OF THE COMMUNITY AND ITS INSTITUTIONS AND INTRODUCE IT IN THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY; AND
(V) PARTNER STATES OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY UPHOLD THEIR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE EAC TREATY, EAST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK CHARTER AND ESTABLISHED STATE PRACTICE TO GUARANTEE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS CONTAINED IN THE TREATIES AND UNDERTAKE TO UPHOLD THE INVIOLABILITY AND SANCTITY OF THE ASSETS, PROPERTY, ARCHIVES OF THE EAC AND ITS INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE EAC MANDATE IS ACCOMPLISHED.
16 THE SUMMIT WELCOMED AND EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA’S INTERVENTION IN SOMALIA, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA, TO SAFEGUARD THE PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA.
17 THE SUMMIT EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE KAMPALA ACCORD REGARDING THE REGIONAL POLITICAL PEACE INITIATIVE IN SOMALIA WHOSE IMPLEMENTATION INVOLVES THE AFRICAN UNION, EUROPEAN UNION, THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES, INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENT, INDIAN OCEAN COMMISSION, THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE ON SOMALIA (UNPOS) AND THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN A JOINT PEACE IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM.
18 THEIR EXCELLENCIES, PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, DR. MOHAMMED GHARIB BILAL VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AND RT. HON. PIERRE DAMIEN HABUMUREMYI, PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA THANKED THEIR HOST, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA AND THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI FOR THE WARM AND CORDIAL HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN BUJUMBURA.
DONE AT BUJUMBURA, THIS 30TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2011
SOURCE
East African Community (EAC)
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