KBC News
Monday, November 28, 2011
In a communiqué released at the end of the 13th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State in Bujumbura, Burundi, the regional leaders also expressed support to the Kampala Accord regarding regional peace initiatives in Somalia.
"The summit expressed support for the Kampala Accord regarding the regional political peace initiatives in Somalia whose implementation involves the African Union, European Union, the League of Arab States, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Indian Ocean Commission, the United Nations Peace on Somalia (UNPOS) and the East African Community in a joint peace implementation mechanism," the communiqué said in part.
EAC treaty
During the summit President Mwai Kibaki was handed over the chairmanship of the EAC by outgoing chairman President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi.
The summit was also attended by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, PrimeMinister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi of Rwanda and Vice-President Mohammed Gharib Bilal of Tanzania.
On the East African Development Bank (EADB)/Blue Line litigation, the summit directed that Attorney Generals of the partner states meet with lawyers of the EADB and the counsel to the Community by 31st December 2011 to formulate a special legal position on the way forward on the matter.
The leaders further directed the East African Development Bank to appeal against the order of attachment made by the High Court of Tanzania.
The summit also recommended that the EAC partner states should uphold their collective and individual duties and obligations under the EAC Treaty, the East African Development Bank Charter and established state practice to guarantee privileges and immunities as contained in the treaties.
This move is geared towards upholding the inviolability and sanctity of the assets, property, archives of the EAC and its institutions to ensure that the EAC mandate is accomplished.
The leaders took note of the annual progress report of the EAC council of ministers and approved the EAC Industrialization Policy and Strategy.
They also approved the protocol on prevention and combating corruption and the protocol on immunities and privileges for East African Community, its organs and institutions for conclusion.
The EAC Development Strategy (2011/12 - 2015/2016) whose theme is "Deepening and accelerating regional integration" was also launched during the 13th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State.