Deputy secretary general in charge of Political Federation Beatrice Kiraso

Cases of terrorism, human abductions and cyber-crime have been described to be new forms of insecurity threatening the five East African Community (EAC) member states.

Addressing the joint meeting of the region’s sectoral councils on Cooperation in Defence, Inter-state Security and Foreign Policy Coordination, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of political federation, Ms Beatrice Kiraso, said such threats were undermining the proposed regional integration as well as the achievement of Millennium Development Goals.

“Instability at our borders have negative spill effects on our people and economic integration as we face new set of menaces including money laundering, human trafficking, illicit drugs as well as fire-arms trafficking,” said Ms Kiraso.

She was responding to the concern raised by most of the delegates regarding the state of anarchy in Somalia and how it is likely to jeopardize the stability of EAC member states namely Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

Representatives from Kenya were mostly concerned with the instability and lack of proper government in Somalia, pointing out that their country, which directly borders the horn of Africa, is at risk. Delegates at the on-going Arusha meet have described the state of chaos in the horn of Africa as an ever-growing raging monster out to shatter the peace and tranquility in the EA region.

For years now, the Somalia matter has remained “an elephant in the room” during sessions to address peace issues in the community. Members of the 4th Joint Meeting of Sectoral Councils on Cooperation in Defence, Inter-State Security and Foreign Policy Coordination are expected to sign a final draft of the EAC Protocol on Peace and Security next Friday.

According to Ms Kiraso, the draft Protocol was adopted by the EAC Council of Ministers and referred to the meeting for conclusion of policy guidelines on counter terrorism, piracy as well as detention, custody and rehabilitation of offenders.

By MARC NKWAME, Tanzania Daily News

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