Raise public awareness on EAC protocols, regional MP tells gov’t

February 13, 2022 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese lawmaker in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has urged the government to sensitize the public on the East African Community (EAC) protocols.

Ayason Mukulia Kennedy, the Legal, Rules and Regulations committee chairperson in the regional assembly, made the call at a meeting of South Sudanese MPs in EALA on Thursday.

The one-day meeting held in Juba was to assess the status of the ratification and implementation of the EAC protocols and laws.

“The main objective of this activity is to assess the reasons for delays in the ratification of concluded protocols and to assess the implementation of laws of the community by partner states,” he said.

An EAC member since April 2016, South Sudan has so far ratified 14 protocols.

Before a state ratifies or accedes to a treaty in accordance with the provisions of the law of treaties, it has to complete some of the necessary procedures at the national level. These provisions are governed by national law or the constitution of that particular state.

Mukulia said slow implementation of the protocols affects the country’s integration process.

“The method of implementation of protocols is a piece meal. They are not wholly implemented. This affects integration process,” he stressed.

The lawmaker said more capacity building is needed in the country’s Ministry of Justice to ensure national laws conform to EAC protocols.

For her part, Mary Ajith, the Director for Legislative Drafting at the Ministry of Justice said South Sudan acceded to the EAC treaty by accession, becoming party to the treaty already in force among other states.

“This means South Sudan shall be bound by the treaty, all legislation and implement protocols, other agreements and policies,” she said.

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization of six partner states, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

All member states of the EAC are required to pay $8 million annually as their contribution to the regional bloc.

(ST)