IN SUMMARY The Burundian Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a lobby of 11 civil society organisations, is calling for an independent secretariat for the Benjamin Mkapa-led mediation team, saying East African Community Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko is not neutral in the Burundian dialogue talks. “We have written to the EAC Heads of State Summit and to Mr Mkapa himself. Mr Mfumukeko is just following the agenda of the Burundian government; this is not helping the process,” he said. The UN Committee Against Torture in a recent meeting in Switzerland, voiced concern about reported reprisals against Burundians and civil society leaders. The Burundian Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a lobby of 11 civil society organisations, is calling for an independent secretariat for the Benjamin Mkapa-led mediation team, saying East African Community Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko is not neutral in the Burundian dialogue talks. They claim that Mr Mfumukeko has sidelined key stakeholders who Bujumbura is uncomfortable with. “Mr Mkapa should have his own secretariat in this mediation. Mr Mfumukeko is from Burundi and continues to sideline the parties at the centre of the conflict, while inviting others,” said Lambert Nigarura, the chairperson and legal representative of the lobby group. “We have written to the EAC Heads of State Summit and to Mr Mkapa himself. Mr Mfumukeko is just following the agenda of the Burundian government; this is not helping the process,” he said. The government of Burundi issued arrest warrants for some of the parties to the talks whom...

IN SUMMARY Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since last year, with Burundi accusing Rwanda of supporting and training rebels to fight President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government. Kigali denies the accusations. But the decision by Burundi to ban food exports to Rwanda as well as stopping free entry and movement of people from either side, has been seen as the final straw for the bilateral ties between the two countries. Rwanda has criticised the decisions by Burundi, saying it contravenes trade and free movement protocols put in place by the East African Community. The recent decision by Burundi to ban food exports to Rwanda has seen a further deterioration of relations between the two neighbours. Two weeks ago, Burundi banned the export of fruits and vegetables to Rwanda and closed the border between the two countries leaving hundreds of travellers stranded. Officials in Bujumbura said that the country was retaliating against Kigali for “destabilising” the country. Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since last year, with Burundi accusing Rwanda of supporting and training rebels to fight President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government. Kigali denies the accusations. READ: Kigali now tells off Burundi But the decision by Burundi to ban food exports to Rwanda as well as stopping free entry and movement of people from either side, has been seen as the final straw for the bilateral ties between the two countries. “Our businesses have been affected. From Burundi, we have been buying vegetables and fruits, which have a ready market in...

AMMAN — The Trade Ministry is working to find new markets to promote Jordanian products in East African and Central Asian countries, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Jawad Anani said on Sunday. Chairing a meeting at the ministry, Anani, who is minister of industry, trade and supply, said that finding new markets would help increase the volume of national exports and make up for the losses caused by the closure of the Iraqi and Syrian markets. The ministry plans to increase exports of various goods, including pharmaceuticals, to Palestine by $1 billion, he said. An economic delegation is scheduled to visit Kazakhstan in September to discuss cooperation, he said, adding that the ministry hopes to open the Kazakh market to Jordanian products. The meeting, held to discuss challenges to the pharmaceutical industry, was attended by Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab and Amman Chamber of Industry President Ziad Homsi. Anani highlighted the importance of boosting the pharmaceutical sector through scientific research and the development of new products. A comprehensive policy on the challenges facing the sector will be developed in cooperation with the public and private sectors, in line with the Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ recommendations, the minister added. Anani and Sheyyab also highlighted outcomes of talks with an Egyptian ministerial delegation that visited Jordan last week to register Jordanian medicines in Egypt. They said an agreement was reached on joint rules to register medicine, adding that other issues were resolved. Representatives of the association briefed the ministers on challenges...

EAST Africa enjoys strong economic growth for over a decade now but the rosy picture of the economy is soiled by deepening inequality which begs a question on who in particular benefit from the growth. This is one of the key observation of the State of East Africa Report 2016 that was launched in Dar es Salaam last Friday by Society of International Development and TradeMark Africa. The region has recorded robust growth of the economy with an average of more than six per cent annual growth-rate for over a decade with Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda all forecast show rapid economic growth over the next decade on the back of tourism, agriculture, services and manufacturing industries and improving their transport links and energy supply. With Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya economies expected to expand at least six per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), East Africa is considered as a bright spot of the sub-Saharan Africa whose growth is expected to slow again in 2016 to 2.5 per cent, down from 3.0 per cent in 2015 due to low commodity prices, tightening global financial conditions and drought in parts of the region. However, according to the State of East Africa Report 2016, the growth has been accompanied by growth in inequality in virtually all countries. The report observes that despite the impressive growth, the economic boom has not generated the jobs or prosperity for all as it was expected. The levels of poverty, hunger and malnutrition...

August 9, 2016 The East African Community member countries’ total debt is unsustainable and could lead to a crisis, a new economic report warns. The report by the Society for International Development (Sid) titled “The State of East Africa 2016: Consolidating Misery? The Political Economy of Inequalities”, notes that there is growing concern among economists that alarming debt Source: Nile Times

Photo: The Observer A Few Of East African leaders, Uganda President Museveni (L) and Rwanda President Paul Kagame (file Picture). Dar es Salaam — East African countries will have to rethink and renegotiate social contracts and independence for Voters to profit from regional financial increase, a report on the state of East Africa 2016 launched the day past says. The document suggests that the Area has massive attainable that must be exploited, however Exchange limitations, poor infrastructure, insecurity, unfair judicial programs, low wages and susceptible rules are nonetheless an important stumblimg block. The East African Neighborhood (EAC) member states have, Subsequently, been entreated to surely reform the institutions through system of rules, insurance policies and rules that would make them more equitable, predictable and inclusive. The Sixth file with the aid of the Society for World Development (SID) in collaboration with Change Mark East Africa has Also steered the international locations to reform constructions within the corridors of energy, and in their economies. On The launch of the record, SID deputy managing director Arthur Muliro advised newshounds that institutional arrangements at national levels are skewed in favour of the rich and strong individuals, suggesting that consolidating inequalities within member states will negatively influence the longer term technology. “There’s A strong possibility that future EAC generations will reside a worse life as in comparison with the current generation,” he mentioned. A “catastrophic convergence” of politics, economic system and Environment usually are not pleasant to the Area, he stated. EAC member states...

The 6th report by the Society for International Development, released in collaboration with Trade Mark East Africa, analyses several sectors in three pillars: the economic pillar comprising agriculture, wages and wage policy; the social pillar consisting of education, health, housing and shelter sectors; and the political pillar that includes justice and security issues. It was launched yesterday. In Summary New findings on the state of East Africa are pretty gloomy - though the experts themselves see some reasons for optimism if major changes are made Dar es Salaam. East African countries should rethink and renegotiate social contracts and independence for citizens to benefit from regional economic growth, a report on the state of East Africa 2016 launched yesterday says. The report suggests that the region has massive potential that needs to be exploited, but trade barriers, poor infrastructure, insecurity, unfair judicial systems, low wages and weak regulations are still a major stumblimg block. The East African Community (EAC) member states have, therefore, been urged to genuinely reform the institutions through formulation of laws, policies and regulations that would make them more equitable, predictable and inclusive. The 6th report by the Society for International Development (SID) in collaboration with Trade Mark East Africa has also advised the countries to reform structures in the corridors of power, and in their economies. At the launch of the report, SID deputy managing director Arthur Muliro told reporters that institutional arrangements at national levels are skewed in favour of the rich and powerful people, suggesting...

  By Henry Lyimo East Africa enjoys strong economic growth for over a decade now but the rosy picture of the economy is soiled by deepening inequality which begs a question on who in particular benefit from the growth. This is one of the key observation of the State of East Africa Report 2016 that was launched in Dar es Salaam last Friday by Society of International Development and TradeMark Africa. The region has recorded robust growth of the economy with an average of more than six per cent annual growth-rate for over a decade with Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda all forecast show rapid economic growth over the next decade on the back of tourism, agriculture, services and manufacturing industries and improving their transport links and energy supply. Source: All Africa

Tourists at a park in Tanzania. The World Bank says the service sector is blossoming. IN SUMMARY For example more than 16 percent of the accounting, architectural, engineering and legal firms in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) countries are already engaged in exports, mainly to neighbouring countries. A World Bank report has praised the East Africa Tourism Platform (EATO) for showing strong leadership in championing a coordinated approach to enhance the region’s travel and tourism competitiveness. The report says the EATP has enabled practitioners, policy makers, and regulators to engage in “meaningful dialogue” about the critical issues that are currently transforming these services in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Cooperation initiatives are necessary to increase the regulatory capacity that African governments need to build over time to engage in meaningful liberalisation efforts,” says Alemayehu Geda, Associate Professor of Economics at Addis Ababa University. “Through analytical support and technical assistance, the World Bank can assist African countries to improve regulation, facilitate services flows, and ultimately make services in Africa more competitive.” Africa’s export potential in traditional services, such as tourism, is clearly recognised, but the emerging success of exports of nontraditional services, such as business services, is often overlooked, the report says. For example more than 16 percent of the accounting, architectural, engineering and legal firms in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) countries are already engaged in exports, mainly to neighbouring countries. “This contradicts official statistics, which assert that professional services exports for several countries are...

Kisumu Governor, Jack Ranguma, will officially open doors to this year’s regional show at the Mamboleo grounds tomorrow. The exhibitions to be held till Sunday July 31 have attracted government institutions and the private sectors which have set up stands from which members of the public will obtain information regarding to this year’s theme, enhancing technology in agriculture and industry for food security and national growth. The events publicity committee chairman, Mr Julius Nyadiango and regional ASK chairman Mr Bernard Ateng’a said this year has attracted relatively higher interest to the international and East African community at its preparation stages. In line with the theme, sister ministries of Public Service, Youth and Gender affairs with that of Devolution and planning initially under one ministry, have erected twin stands at the grounds to enable members of the public access information and understand their distinct roles. Mrs Florence Mugendi, the devolution and planning ministry communications officer said many people still perceive the ministries as one despite having clearly distinct functions. “We were separated into two due to the intense and work overload in service delivery and many Kenyans are still unaware and are left seeking services at inappropriate places and we hope they will get a chance to get clarifications during the show,” said Mrs Mugendi. She said the devolution ministry had been left with planning and statistics that largely concerns population trend studies, special programs and the state department that is closely under the presidency. Mrs Mugendi added that the ministry had...