EAC heads of states summit postponed over lack of quorum

East African Community heads of state during the 20th Heads of States Summit in Arusha, Tanzania in February 2019. The summit scheduled for November 30 has been postponed due to a lack of quorum. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • East African Community heads of State were scheduled to meet on November 30 in Arusha.
  • Representatives from one member country were absent.
  • A new date in January or February will be communicated after consultations.

The summit of heads of state of the East African Community (EAC) scheduled for November 30 in Arusha, Tanzania, has been postponed due to a lack of quorum.

One of the six-member countries --Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, would not be represented.

According to official correspondence from the Rwandan minister of State in charge of East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, a new date in January or February will be communicated after consultations among EAC heads of state.

Other reports indicated that Burundi requested for a postponement.

The postponement comes at a time when the EAC Secretariat has expressed concerns about low budget support by member states, which has caused several programmes to stall.

Estimates show that South Sudan and Burundi have been the main defaulters.

Kenya and Tanzania, who are the best performers in remittances, have slowed down their payments to express their displeasure with the conduct of other members.

According to budget documents, the EAC is about $100 million (Sh10 billion) in arrears for the 2018/19 fiscal year, blamed on the outstanding debt of member states