JUBA, South Sudan
Oct 14, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Daniel Kidega has urged the Republic of South Sudan, which is the latest entrant into the regional bloc, to adhere to the tenets of democracy and good governance as enshrined in the East African Community (EAC) Treaty.
Kidega said EALA congratulates the Republic of South Sudan for its full accession to the EAC and urges it to adhere to full tenets of democracy and good governance as enshrined in Article 6 of the Treaty. Kidega was briefing journalists shortly before the commencement of the 2nd Meeting of the 5th Session of the 3rd Assembly which began on October 10 in Zanzibar, a statement said. The session ends October 21, 2016.
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Early this year, South Sudan became the sixth member of the EAC after President Salva Kiir signed an ascension treaty in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The other EAC countries are Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Article 6 states lists the fundamental principles that shall govern the achievement of the objectives of the Community by the Partner States including mutual trust, political will and sovereign equality; peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness; and peaceful settlement of disputes. Also good governance including adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality, as well as the recognition, promotion and protect ion of human and people’s rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
For some time now, South Sudan has suffered political unrest, causing death to hundreds of people.
On behalf of the Assembly, Kidega thanked the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, for granting us them the opportunity to meet in Zanzibar. While in Zanzibar, the Assembly expects to handle business including debate and possible enactment of three key Bills. The Bills are the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill 2016, The EAC Counter-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2016 and the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill 2016.
Members of the Assembly shall also find an opportunity to network with a number of stakeholders from Zanzibar and the EAC region.
Kidega explained that the laws enacted by EALA once assented to take precedence over the national laws of the Partner States on similar matters within the purview of the Community. To date, the Assembly has passed over 70 pieces of Legislation. Over two-thirds of the laws (49) have been assented to while the rest are still in the process of assent, which is undertaken by all the EAC Heads of State in accordance with Article 63 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. EALA has also passed a number of Resolutions and Reports which are all pertinent to the integration process.
As an Assembly, he said they are also very supportive of the recent decision of the Summit to delay the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) until such time that all concerns of Partner States are addressed. “Consensus is a key attribute of the Community.” he said. He said the region embraced the Monetary Union having by signing the Protocol in 2013. “While the single currency is based on the ten-year roadmap of the Monetary Union, it is vital for Partner States to stay the course when it comes to the deliverables of the pillar. Partner States need to maintain monetary and financial stability in order to facilitate trade and economic integration. We look forward to the establishment of the EAC Central Bank and the related institutions.”
NB: Nyamilepedia Press summarized this report from the October 13, New Vision Newspaper, Uganda reported the same’
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