EAC: Partner States Urged to Step up Fight against New Security Challenges
By staff writer
ARUSHA— The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Hon. Beatrice Kiraso, expressed Monday fears that the region could be facing a new set of threats from internal and external forces at the ongoing joint meeting of the EAC sectoral councils on Cooperation in Defense, Inter-state Security and Foreign Policy Coordination in Arusha.
The threats including terrorism, human trafficking, money laundering and cyber crime which she says if not addressed could greatly undermine regional integration efforts.
In a statement when opening the meeting Kiraso said, “These threats impact negatively on the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as the region’s integration efforts.”
The other threats Kiraso mentioned are: piracy, abductions, transnational crime including human trafficking, illicit drugs and arms trafficking.
“Insecurity at our borders has negative spillover effects on the wellbeing of our people and more importantly on economic integration,” stated Hon. Kiraso.
Hon. Kiraso said that the EAC Draft Conflict Prevention Management Resolution (CPMR) Framework and the Peace and Security Protocol would offer a range of security interventions to prevent and mitigate conflicts and threats.
The draft Protocol was adopted by the EAC Council of Ministers, which referred it to this meeting for conclusion of policy guidance on counter terrorism, piracy as well as detention, custody and rehabilitation of offenders.
“I am confident that by end of this meeting, everything will have been done to ensure approval of the Draft Peace and Security Protocol by the next Summit scheduled for April 2012 and the finalization of the Draft CPMR Mechanism,” she told the delegates.
The Chairperson of the Session, Mutea Iringo from Kenya, underscored the need for collective security efforts in the region.
Mr Iringo, who is from the President’s Office (Kenya Ministry of State for Provisional Administration and Internal Security) said that security threats must be taken seriously and addressed collectively if the region was to realize meaningful integration, adding that peace and security were a basis for a stronger and cohesive region.
Kenya is presently chairing the EAC meetings while Rwanda is the rapporteur.
The meeting will also consider the indicators of the EAC Early Warning Mechanism. The CPMR framework includes initiatives on conflict prevention, making early warning an integral part. It also provides for mechanisms of managing and resolving conflicts, when they occur and establishes a panel of eminent persons who will serve as peace envoys or mediators.
The meeting is also expected to consider a regional strategy and action plan to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean.
The strategy was developed collectively by the EAC, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and International Organization of Maritime (IOC) in 2010.