Communiqué: 14th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State-November 30, 2012

Communiqué: 14th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State

Theme: Investing in 21st Century Infrastructure for Deeper Integration

1 THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, HE PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, HE PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, HE PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, HE PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI, AND HE PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA HELD THE 14TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE AT THE KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, NAIROBI, KENYA ON 30TH NOVEMBER 2012. THE HEADS OF STATE MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.

2 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED THE ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 2011 – NOVEMBER 2012 AND NOTED THE STEADY PROGRESS MADE BY THE COMMUNITY ON THE INTEGRATION PROCESS. THE SUMMIT APPROVED THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS: (i) EAC PROTOCOL ON PEACE AND SECURITY; (ii) EAC PROTOCOL ON INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS; AND (iii) EAC PROTOCOL ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES.

3 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY. THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HAS DEVELOPED A WORK PLAN AND IDENTIFIED PILLARS THAT ADDRESS FREE CIRCULATION OF GOODS, REVENUE MANAGEMENT AND THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK. THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY IS ONGOING.

4 THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT THE HIGH LEVEL TASK FORCE NEGOTIATING THE EAST AFRICAN MONETARY UNION PROTOCOL, WHICH COMMENCED IN JANUARY 2011, HAS NEGOTIATED ALL THE 77 ARTICLES IN THE DRAFT EAMU PROTOCOL. HOWEVER THERE ARE OUTSTANDING MATTERS ON THE AREAS OF MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ON WHICH GUIDANCE IS EXPECTED FROM THE SECTORAL COUNCIL ON EAMU. THE HIGH LEVEL TASK FORCE HAS ALSO NEGOTIATED A DRAFT ROAD MAP FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONETARY UNION IN A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS AFTER ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE PROTOCOL. GIVEN THE OUTSTANDING WORK, THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO EXPEDITE NEGOTIATIONS TOWARDS THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROTOCOL AND REPORT PROGRESS AT THE 12TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE WITH A VIEW TO SIGNING THIS PROTOCOL AT THE 15TH SUMMIT OF THE EAC HEADS OF STATE.

5 THE SUMMIT APPROVED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPEN HEALTH INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE REPRODUCTIVE, MATERNAL, INFANT, AND CHILD HEALTH IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY PARTNER STATES IN LINE WITH THE GOALS OF THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH.

6 THE SUMMIT REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE PROMOTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RESULTS AND RESOURCES, INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTH DATA, INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING FOR BETTER RESULTS, BETTER TRACKING AND STRONGER OVERSIGHT OF RESULTS AND RESOURCES FOR WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH NATIONALLY AND REGIONALLY.

7 THE SUMMIT URGED EAC PARTNER STATES, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THE ACCELERATION FUND FOR REPRODUCTIVE, MATERNAL, INFANT, AND CHILD HEALTH IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE AND SCALE-UP THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH IMPACT PRIORITY AND INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH IN THE EAC REGION.

8 THE SUMMIT NOTED THE PROGRESS MADE ON THE ROAD MAP FOR ESTABLISHING THE POLITICAL FEDERATION AND THE ACTION PLAN AND MODEL STRUCTURE FOR THE FEDERATION AND DIRECTED PARTNER STATES TO CONSULT FURTHER ON THE:-

i) 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) ACTION PLAN FOR OPERATIONALIZING THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT OF THE TEAM OF EXPERTS; AND iii) DRAFT MODEL OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE EAST AFRICAN POLITICAL FEDERATION; AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO REPORT PROGRESS TO THE 15TH SUMMIT OF THE EAC HEADS OF STATE.

9 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROPOSAL BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FOR EXTENSION OF THE DELEGATION OF THE SUMMIT’S POWERS TO REVIEW THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY COMMON EXTERNAL TARIFF AND THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY RULES OF ORIGIN. THE SUMMIT REVIEWED THE DELEGATION OF ITS POWERS IN THIS MATTER AND EXTENDED THE PERIOD OF DELEGATION FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS WITH EFFECT FROM 20TH NOVEMBER, 2012.

10 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROGRESS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE EXTENSION OF JURISDICTION OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE. THE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE OF PROGRESS ON THIS MATTER AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MIINISTERS TO EXPEDITE THE MATTER AND REPORT TO THE 12TH EXTRA-ORDINARY SUMMIT OF EAC HEADS OF STATE.

11 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED PROGRESS REPORT ON THE APPLICATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN TO JOIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO COMMENCE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN WHILE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE FINDINGS IN THE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

12 THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED THE APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA TO JOIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO ENGAGE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA AND UNDERTAKE A VERIFICATION PROCESS OF THE APPLICATION AND REPORT AT THE 15TH SUMMIT OF EAC HEADS OF STATE. WHILE UNDERTAKING THIS PROCESS, THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WILL EXPLORE WAYS FOR THE EAC TO WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA ON THIS MATTER.

13 THE SUMMIT WELCOMED THE SIGNING OF A LETTER OF INTENT BETWEEN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY PARTNER STATES AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A COMMERCIAL DIALOGUE FOR PURPOSES OF STRENGTHENING THEIR COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP.

14 THE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE THAT THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA WILL BE HAVING ELECTIONS IN MARCH 2013. THE SUMMIT WISHED THE PEOPLE OF KENYA PEACEFUL ELECTIONS.

15 THE SUMMIT APPLAUDED THE FORMER TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA LED BY PRESIDENT SHARIF SHEIKH AHMED AND PRIME MINISTER ABDIWELI MOHAMED ALI FOR THE LEADERSHIP PROVIDED IN CONDUCTING PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES FOR ENDING THE POLITICAL TRANSITION IN SOMALI, WHICH CULMINATED IN THE ELECTION OF A NEW GOVERNMENT.

16 THE SUMMIT CONGRATULATED HE HASSAN SHEIKH MAHMOUD AND HON. MOHAMED OSMAN JAWARI UPON THEIR ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA AND SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF SOMALIA RESPECTIVELY; AND HON. ABDI FARAH SHIRDON ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA. THE SUMMIT EXPRESSED ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES AIMED AT STRENGTHENING SOMALIA’S GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES AND URGES THE NEW LEADERSHIP TO BUILD ONTO THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT AND CONSOLIDATE THE PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILIZATION.

17 THE SUMMIT NOTED THE PROGRESS OF THE REGIONAL INITIATIVE, THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION (ICGLR), AIMED AT RE-ESTABLISHING CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER, PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE KIVU REGION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) IN THE FACE OF THE INSURGENCE BY MILITIA GROUPS INCLUDING THE M23 AND EXPRESSED THE SUMMIT’S FULL SUPPORT TO THE REGIONAL UNDERTAKING.

18 THE SUMMIT CONGRATULATED THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA UPON BEING ELECTED A NON-PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND URGED THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE AND INTEREST OF AFRICA IN GENERAL AND EAST AFRICA IN PARTICULAR IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

19 THE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI TO JOIN THE COMMONWEALTH MEMBERSHIP AND PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT TO THE APPLICATION.

20 THEIR EXCELLENCIES, PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI, PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, AND PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA THANKED THEIR HOST, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, FOR THE WARM AND CORDIAL HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN NAIROBI. DONE AT NAIROBI, THIS 30TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2012.