COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 10TH EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF EAC HEADS OF STATE

ARUSHA, Tanzania, April 28, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ --

NGURDOTO MOUNTAIN LODGE, ARUSHA, TANZANIA

28TH APRIL 2012

10TH EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

1 THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUMMIT, PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA AND FIRST VICE PRESIDENT HE THÉRENCE SINUNGURUZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI HELD THE 10TH EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE AT THE NGURDOTO MOUNTAIN LODGE IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA ON 28TH APRIL 2012.

2 THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.

3 THE SUMMIT COMMENDED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FOR TAKING THE LEAD IN THE ELIMINATION OF NON TARIFF BARRIERS TO ENHANCE FREE CIRCULATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY AND DIRECTED THAT DECISIONS TAKEN TO THIS EFFECT BE IMPLEMENTED EXPEDITIOUSLY.

4 THE SUMMIT COMMENDED HON. BEATRICE B. KIRASO WHO WAS COMPLETING HER TERM OF OFFICE AS DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN CHARGE OF POLITICAL FEDERATION FOR HER EXEMPLARY SERVICE DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS. THE SUMMIT WISHED HON. KIRASO WELL IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVOURS.

5 THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT THE CONTRACT FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY OVERSIGHT AGENCY (CASSOA), MR. MTESIGWA MAUGO WAS DUE TO EXPIRE IN MAY 2012.

6 THE SUMMIT COMMENDED MR. MTESIGWA MAUGO FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WISHED HIM WELL IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVOURS.

7 THE SUMMIT APPOINTED HON. JESCA ERIYO FROM THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA NEW DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY WITH EFFECT FROM 30TH APRIL 2012.

8 THE SUMMIT RENEWED THE CONTRACT OF MR. JEAN CLAUDE NSENGIYUMVA AS DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR A FINAL TERM OF THREE YEARS WITH EFFECT FROM 30TH APRIL 2012.

9 THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE SECRETARY GENERAL TO DEPLOY THE DEPUTY SECRETARIES GENERAL TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

10 THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A PROGRESS REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE ATTAINMENT OF A SINGLE CUSTOMS TERRITORY.

11 THE SUMMIT ADOPTED IN PRINCIPLE THE DESTINATION MODEL OF CLEARANCE OF GOODS WHERE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF REVENUE IS AT THE FIRST POINT OF ENTRY AND REVENUES ARE REMITTED TO THE DESTINATION PARTNER STATES SUBJECT TO THE FULFILMENT OF KEY PRE-CONDITIONS TO BE DEVELOPED BY THE HIGH LEVEL TASK FORCE.

12 THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO INITIATE ITS OPERATIONALIZATION AND REPORT PROGRESS AT THE 14TH ORDINARY SUMMIT IN NOVEMBER 2012.

13 THE SUMMIT CONSIDERED THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE APPLICATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN TO JOIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. THE SUMMIT NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL HAS INITIATED THE VERIFICATION PROCESS OF THE APPLICATION. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS AND REPORT AT THE 14TH ORDINARY SUMMIT IN NOVEMBER 2012.

14 THE HEADS OF STATE SIGNED THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY PROTOCOL ON CO-OPERATION IN DEFENCE. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THAT THE PROTOCOL BE RATIFIED AND INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION DEPOSITED WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL BY 30TH NOVEMBER 2012 AND THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MUTUAL DEFENCE PACT COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.

15 THE SUMMIT APPROVED THE PROPOSED REMUNERATION OF THE JUDGE PRESIDENT AND THE PRINCIPAL JUDGE FOR THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE.

16 THE SUMMIT REVIEWED THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE EAST AFRICAN REGION.

17 THE SUMMIT EXPRESSED CONCERN ON THE ONGOING CONFLICT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF SUDAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN AND APRECIATED THE ROLE PARTNER STATES HAVE PLAYED IN RESOLVING THE CONFLICT IN THE SUDAN AND EXPRESSED ITS DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE TO PLAY THIS POSITIVE ROLE IN RESOLVING THE CONFLICTS IN COUNTRIES THAT BORDER THE EAC.

18 THE SUMMIT URGED THE LEADERS OF THE REPUBLICS OF THE SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN TO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE AND FIND PEACEFUL MEANS OF RESOLVING ALL THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT.

19 THE SUMMIT WELCOMED THE LONDON CONFERENCE ON SOMALIA OF FEBRUARY 2012 AND NOTED THAT IT MARKED A TURNING POINT IN THE COUNTRY'S QUEST FOR PEACE AND STABILITY. THE SUMMIT FURTHER COMMENDED THE AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA (AMISOM) WORKING WITH THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA FOR RETURNING PEACE TO LARGE AREAS OF SOMALIA AND CALLS ON THE TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA TO CONSOLIDATE THE BENEFITS OF PEACE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF SOMALIA.

20 THE SUMMIT WELCOMED THE RESOLUTION BY THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR EXPEDITING AMENDMENT OF THE TREATY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY TO EXTEND JURISDICTION OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE OR THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROTOCOL ON THIS MATTER. THE SUMMIT NOTED THE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER OF EXTENDING THIS JURISDICTION TO COVER, AMONG OTHERS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO CONSIDER THIS MATTER BY END OF MAY 2012 AND REPORT TO AN EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT TO BE CONVENED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.

21 THE SUMMIT RESOLVED TO HOLD A DEDICATED SESSION ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING IN THE REGION AT THE 14TH ORDINARY SUMMIT IN NOVEMBER 2012.

22 THEIR EXCELLENCIES, PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUMMIT, PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, AND FIRST VICE PRESIDENT RT. HON. THERENCE SINUNGURUZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI THANKED THEIR HOST, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, FOR THE WARM AND CORDIAL HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN ARUSHA.

DONE AT ARUSHA, THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL 2012

PICTURES: PICTURES FROM THE 10TH EXTRAORDINARY EAC SUMMIT AVAILABLE HERE: http://www.eac.int/photos/photos/index.php?level=album&id=120