There is a good chance that the leaders of the East African Community (EAC) will approve the candidacy of the DR Congo to join the regional bloc at the summit of heads of state scheduled before the end of the year. sources told The New Times.

According to the sources, Kinshasa presented a solid dossier for admission to the block.

The 21st ordinary meeting of the Summit of Heads of State of the EAC, held virtually on February 27, examined the candidacy of the DR Congo for membership in the Community and instructed the Council of Ministers to undertake in the best possible deadlines a verification mission in accordance with the EAC procedure for the admission of new members to the bloc and report to the next summit.

In September, a report from a regional verification mission on DR Congo’s eligibility to join the bloc was ready for consideration by the Council of Ministers and Manasseh Nshuti, Rwandan Minister of State in charge of EAC Affairs. , indicated at the time that it was positive.

The East African Business Council (EABC) also urged EAC heads of state to ask relevant bodies to speed up the admission of DR Congo to the bloc.

On Tuesday, November 9, Nshuti told the New Times that regional ministers in charge of EAC affairs were to meet November 26-27 in preparation for the summit and that “the Council will confirm the date after agreeing on substantive issues to be presented to Heads of State. “

In addition to the exact date of the Summit, a location will also be confirmed in due course.

Asked specifically about the DR Congo’s chances of admission, he said: [Summit] will approve admission.

On June 8, 2019, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi wrote to the then President of the EAC, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, expressing his country’s wish to be a member of the regional bloc now comprising Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania.

Usually, the EAC summit takes place on November 30, EAC day.

The Summit is usually preceded by a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

“However, this (date of the Summit) is subject to the consensus of the Summit members. In accordance with the EAC calendar of activities, the 41st Regular Council Meeting is set for the last week of November 2021 (23 – 29 November 2021), ”said Simon Peter Owaka, Senior Public Relations Officer, EAC.

Regarding key agenda items and other important issues that could be discussed at the next summit, Nshuti noted that ministers are still preparing and “after deciding on the issues, the president can establish the ‘agenda”.

“The Council will meet next week from the 26th to the 27th; after that, the president can call a summit. The Summit is expected to take place this year.

Covid-19 risk

There is not much to say about the main agenda items for the next summit, but the minister noted that leaders will focus on the “well-being of the people of the Community, especially in the in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic “.

Nshuti said, “The impact of the pandemic on our economies and populations and how together all six countries we can handle the situation will be significant. Covid-19 has hit every corner of our countries and we need to jointly look at mitigation measures. “

“Robust harmonized measures are essential. If, for example, we manage Covid-19 here in Rwanda, and the neighbors don’t, we will always be affected. We need to rethink its impact on our economies and how best we can, as a community, respond collectively. “

Recruitment issues

Nshuti also shed light on the situation regarding efforts to resolve an unresolved recruitment dispute at the EAC secretariat.

Nshuti noted that a council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18-26 to revisit the matter and conclude.

He said: “We are meeting to see how to fix the problem. It’s a problem, mainly with the quota system. It is under development. We should get it right this time. There were some mistakes that we can correct.

On October 19, ministers responsible for EAC affairs pledged to resolve issues causing a deadlock in the ongoing staffing exercise after some regional lawmakers alleged the process was marred by irregularities and unfair treatment of citizens of certain countries.

The ongoing process of recruiting staff for the EAC, in general, aims to fill positions that have been vacant for some years.

More than 15,000 applications were received from all partner states, delegates were profiled and candidates were subsequently shortlisted, but interviews which were due to start on October 18 and end on November 2 could not start as planned. because of the quorum.

Earlier, Ugandan Minister of EAC Affairs Rebecca Kadaga wrote to the Secretary-General to request that talks scheduled for October 18 for various positions advertised in EAC bodies and institutions be postponed until the Secretariat submits the quota points available for each country at the time. or the date of publication of the vacancies.

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