East African Community |
- Headquater: Arusha, Tanzania;
- Member states: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda;
- Date of establishment: 1967 (re-established in 2000);
- Current chairman: Pierre Nkurunziza (the President of the Republic of Burundi);
- Official language: English;
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- The Summit comprising of heads of government of partner states gives general
direction towards the realization of the goal and objectives of the
Community.
- The Council of Ministers is the main decision-making institution. It is made up of ministers
from the partner states responsible for regional co-operation.
- The Co-ordinating Committee consists of permanent secretaries and reports to the council. It
is responsible for regional co-operation and co-ordinates the activities
of the sectoral committees.
- Sectoral Committees conceptualize programs and monitor their implementation. Council
establishes the committees on recommendation of the respective co-ordinating
committee.
- The East African Court of Justice ensures that Community law is interpreted and implemented in line
with the Treaty.
- The East African Legislative Assembly provides a democratic forum for debate. It has a watchdog function
and also plays a part in the legislative process.
- The Secretariat is the executive organ of the Community. As the guardian of the Treaty,
it ensures that regulations and directives adopted by the Council are
properly implemented.
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- 1967: EAC first established;
- 1977: EAC dissolved;
- 30 November 1993: Signing of Agreement for the Establishment of the Permanent Tripartite
Commission for East African Co-operation;
- 14 March 1996: Secretariat of the Permanent Tripartite Commission launched, full
co-operation operations begin;
- 30 November 1999: Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community signed;
- 7 July 2000: Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community enters
into force;
- 18 June 2007: The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi accede to EAC
Treaty;
- 1 July 2007: Rwanda and Burundi become full members of the EAC;
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The East African Community is a potential precursor to the establishment
of the East African Federation, a proposed federation of its five members
into a single state. In 2010, the EAC launched its own common market for goods, labor and capital within the region, with the goal of
a common currency by 2012 (not met yet as of 2013) and full political
federation in 2015. |
Expansion of country membership of the East African Community to include
any foreign country at the level of full membership or associations
is based on the following criteria:
- acceptance of the Community as set out in the Treaty;
- adherence to universally acceptable principles of good governance,
democracy, the rule of law, observance of human rights and social justice;
- potential contribution to the strengthening of integration within
the East African region;
- geographical proximity to and inter-dependence between it (the foreign
country) and the EAC Partner States;
- establishment and maintenance of a market driven economy; and
- social and economic policies being compatible with those of the Community
Admission is considered on the basis of the EAC Procedure for Admission
and is a function of the EAC Summit of Heads of State. |