Presidents of EAC member states at the 11th EAC Summit earlier this
year. Left to right they are: Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi), Yoweri
Museveni (Uganda), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) and Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya).
Reports out of the fifth member state Rwanda, indicate that that
country’s president, Paul Kagame, may not take up EAC chairmanship next
week as stipulated in the community’s rotation schedule. PHOTO | FILE
In Summary
- Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo confirmed late Friday that a crowded domestic schedule, with landmark political observances in 2014, prompted discussions underway to have another country hold the rotational chair.
Kampala. An East African
Community (EAC) summit will take place in Kampala next week, but Rwanda
reportedly said it is “not interested” in taking up the rotational chair
of the regional bloc.
Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs minister, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, confirmed late on Friday that a crowded domestic schedule, with landmark political observances in 2014, prompted discussions underway to have another country hold the rotational chair.
President Paul Kagame was due to assume the community’s chairmanship during the heads of state summit in Kampala, due next Saturday.
“Yes, there have been consultations to skip Rwanda; the coming year is a busy time for Rwanda, with multiple activities related to the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the genocide and 20 years of liberation,” said Ms Mushikiwabo.
“The matter will be decided upon by the heads of state during their [November 30] summit.”
In Kampala, sources said Rwanda’s officials in the ministry responsible for the community affairs communicated the surprise decision to their Ugandan counterparts on Friday, hours to the start of preliminary meetings for the summit, throwing organisers off-balance.
Mr Shem Bageine, the Ugandan minister for EAC, said he was in Nairobi and “I have not received such information. Let me find out.”
“Unfortunately, I am not able to say anything about whether Rwanda will assume the chair or not because we expect Rwanda to participate,” Mr Chris Magoba, spokesman for Uganda EAC ministry said. “If there should be any changes, a press statement will be issued.”
Rwanda’s decision reportedly followed a quiet high-level understanding between the region’s ‘coalition of the willing’ countries – Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda – whose presidents over the past year held three back-to-back summits on, among other things, infrastructure and regional integration issues to the exclusion of Tanzania and Burundi.
The leaders reportedly agreed that Kigali forfeits its turn to enable President Uhuru Kenyatta to snap up the chairmanship of the regional bloc as a timely shot in his arm during political and diplomatic lobbying for the deferral of his ICC trial.
Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs minister, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, confirmed late on Friday that a crowded domestic schedule, with landmark political observances in 2014, prompted discussions underway to have another country hold the rotational chair.
President Paul Kagame was due to assume the community’s chairmanship during the heads of state summit in Kampala, due next Saturday.
“Yes, there have been consultations to skip Rwanda; the coming year is a busy time for Rwanda, with multiple activities related to the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the genocide and 20 years of liberation,” said Ms Mushikiwabo.
“The matter will be decided upon by the heads of state during their [November 30] summit.”
In Kampala, sources said Rwanda’s officials in the ministry responsible for the community affairs communicated the surprise decision to their Ugandan counterparts on Friday, hours to the start of preliminary meetings for the summit, throwing organisers off-balance.
Mr Shem Bageine, the Ugandan minister for EAC, said he was in Nairobi and “I have not received such information. Let me find out.”
“Unfortunately, I am not able to say anything about whether Rwanda will assume the chair or not because we expect Rwanda to participate,” Mr Chris Magoba, spokesman for Uganda EAC ministry said. “If there should be any changes, a press statement will be issued.”
Rwanda’s decision reportedly followed a quiet high-level understanding between the region’s ‘coalition of the willing’ countries – Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda – whose presidents over the past year held three back-to-back summits on, among other things, infrastructure and regional integration issues to the exclusion of Tanzania and Burundi.
The leaders reportedly agreed that Kigali forfeits its turn to enable President Uhuru Kenyatta to snap up the chairmanship of the regional bloc as a timely shot in his arm during political and diplomatic lobbying for the deferral of his ICC trial.
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