{"id":28905,"date":"2022-11-06T15:44:20","date_gmt":"2022-11-06T15:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress"},"modified":"2022-11-06T15:50:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-06T15:50:57","slug":"consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Consensus principle\u2019 blamed for hindering EAC progress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>The East African Community (EAC) takes decisions to act, in terms of regional matters, based on consensus of all of its partner states \u2013 in this case unanimity \u2013 a situation that some members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) argue holds the community back.<\/p>\n

This is one of the issues that were exposed this week during one of EALA\u2019s plenaries held in Kigali. Its meetings concluded on Friday, November 4.<\/p>\n

Now, calls are growing to remove such a consensus from EAC \u2018principles,\u2019 as MPs expressed concern that this procedure is hampering the progress of the community in many ways, and has to change so that the decisions be rather be taken based on the simple majority.<\/p>\n

Speaking to The New Times, MP Francine Rutazana (from Rwanda), said that there have been instances where taking decisions could not be possible because there was no consensus \u2013 even when only one member country disagreed, or was not present, while others were in favour of it.<\/p>\n

She indicated that legislators sought to have the consensus condition changed, but that was constrained by the fact that it was a provision in the treaty, which only Heads of State have the power to amend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis provision holds many businesses back, we are all looking to its amendment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Giving an instance of where consensus stalled EAC progress, Rutazana said that there was a parliamentary proposal to amend a section of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, with a view to extend the time for removal of bulk goods from a port of discharge beyond the provided 21 days.<\/p>\n

Normally, a businessperson is required to have removed all their goods within 21 days after their arrival at the ports, regardless of the amount, and start paying fees\/warehouse rent if they have not met such a deadline, she explained, adding that the amendment would lower costs for traders and consumers subsequently through easing the \u2018doing business,\u2019 but that was not possible because only one country did not endorse the move.<\/p>\n

MP Aden Omar Abdikadir (from Kenya) said that \u201ctime and again, the EAC is unable to move at the pace that it is supposed to because you are told all the countries must sit around the table and everyone must be around, and everyone must say yes. That\u2019s what the consensus means.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there are seven of us and the majority four have agreed in favour of that particular view, or recommendation, let us move with that. This is how the world is making its decisions all over; this is how boards, the European Union is making its decisions,\u201d Abdikadir observed, pointing out that \u201cnow that we are about to engage serious issues like [EAC] monetary union, we are likely to face a lot of challenges with the consensus issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

MP Mary Mugyenyi (from Uganda), also highlighted that the consensus requirement is among the key areas that have kept the community from moving forward because no decision can be made without the agreement of all the parties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have seen that, no sanctions so far have ever been taken against a partner state that has not implemented the rules or the laws of the treaty,\u201d she said, citing issues including non-tariff barriers, and non-payment of membership fees.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy argument is that, as long as the Treaty holds on to the principle of consensus, nothing will be effectively implemented,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if I am also a Summit member, if I have that loophole, that window that empowers me to opt out of the sanctions against my own state, why don\u2019t I use that and save my country from embarrassment,\u201d she wondered.<\/p>\n

Likely review of this matter<\/p>\n

EAC started with a membership of three countries, comprising Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. And, now, it has grown to seven members \u2013 others being Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.<\/p>\n

MPs concurred that when the community was made up with only the three countries, it was easy to have a consensus; but held it is very unlikely that this can be achieved with its many member states.<\/p>\n

Manasseh Nshuti, the Minister of State in Charge of East African Community (EAC) at Rwanda\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told The New Times that as the number of EAC partner states is increasing, it is not always possible to take decisions based on the agreement of all.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to review that. But it requires the treaty be amended. Consensus cannot be [easily] possible for seven countries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Anthony Luyirika Kafumbe, the Counsel to the East African Community (CTC), said that one of the agenda items that have been pressed for the 43rd ordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers to consider, is the amendment of the rules of procedure which include the consensus aspect. The meeting is expected to convene from November 23 to 28.<\/p>\n

On the issue of sanctions, he said that the Secretariat again proposed sanctions which were given to partner states to consider, which is also a matter that is going to be considered by the 43rd meeting of the Council.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. The East African Community (EAC) takes decisions to act, in terms of regional matters, based on consensus of all of its partner states \u2013 in this case unanimity \u2013 a situation that some members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) argue holds the community back. This is one of the issues […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":28904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,14],"tags":[760,763,758],"class_list":["post-28905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-rwanda","tag-rwanda"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Consensus principle\u2019 blamed for hindering EAC progress - Rwanda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The East African Community (EAC) takes decisions to act, in terms of regional matters, based on consensus of all of its ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Consensus principle\u2019 blamed for hindering EAC progress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The East African Community (EAC) takes decisions to act, in terms of regional matters, based on consensus of all of its ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rwanda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-06T15:44:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-11-06T15:50:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2022\/11\/postQueueImg_5-6367d7cb90c2d.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1199\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"\u2018Consensus principle\u2019 blamed for hindering EAC progress\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-06T15:44:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-06T15:50:57+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress\"},\"wordCount\":870,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2022\/11\/postQueueImg_5-6367d7cb90c2d.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Africa Press\",\"Africa Press-Rwanda\",\"Rwanda\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"Policy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/consensus-principle-blamed-for-hindering-eac-progress\",\"name\":\"\u2018Consensus principle\u2019 blamed for hindering EAC progress - 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