Rwanda’s representative tasked to take notes as EAC countries meet in Burundi

Rwanda’s Charge D’ Affaires in Burundi was assigned to report on the ongoing 28^th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) currently underway at the Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi.

According to a Press statement from the East African Community’s Communications Department, Dr. Andrew Musiime, Director in the Uganda’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs is chairing the meeting, while the rapporteur is Mr. Fidele Munyeshyaka, Rwanda’s Charge D’ Affaires in the Republic of Burundi.

The meeting is considering several items including, among others, the status of implementation of previous decisions and directives of the SCMEACP; progress report on the implementation of the EAC Common Market; report of the 5^th annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum; a proposal to undertake elaborate Observance of the 20^th EAC Anniversary in 2019; and restructuring of the Deputy Secretaries General positions at the EAC Headquarters, as directed by the 19^th Summit of the EAC Heads of State.

The 19^th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State held on 23^rd February 2018 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda, decided that there shall only be two (2) Deputy Secretaries General at the EAC who shall be recruited competitively on rotational basis and directed the Council of Ministers to follow up this matter and fast-track the restructuring process.

The 28^th meeting of the Sectoral Council is being held through the session of senior officials that started on Tuesday 10^th and ends in the morning hours on 12^th July; the session of Permanent/Principal/Under Secretaries from the afternoon on 12^th and ends on 13^th July; and the Ministerial session is on Saturday 14^th July 2018.