By KPC Reporter
The East African Community (EAC) will resume national consultations on the drafting of the Constitution for the proposed EAC Political Confederation with a series of stakeholder engagements across Rwanda beginning next week.
The consultations will officially be launched in Kigali on June 15 before moving to Rubavu, Huye and Nyagatare. The exercise is scheduled to conclude on June 27.
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The engagement process is part of the EAC’s broader efforts to involve citizens and key stakeholders in shaping the governance framework of the regional bloc as it advances its political integration agenda.
A wide range of participants are expected to take part in the consultations, including government officials, legislators, members of the judiciary, civil society organizations, academics, business leaders, youth representatives, women, persons with disabilities, religious leaders, media practitioners and political parties.
The consultations will be led by constitutional experts nominated by EAC Partner States and coordinated by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, said the process is intended to ensure the proposed Constitution reflects the aspirations of East Africans.
“The national consultations are designed to create awareness on the Constitution-making process, provide an opportunity for citizens to contribute their views, and ensure that the proposed Constitution is people-centred and owned by the people of East Africa,” said Hon. Malueth.
The consultations will include engagements with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Members of Parliament, the Judiciary, government ministries and agencies, revenue and monetary authorities, human rights institutions, business associations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, media organizations and representatives of special interest groups.
The EAC Secretariat has urged stakeholders across Rwanda to actively participate and submit their views on the proposed Constitution, which is expected to guide the establishment of the EAC Political Confederation.
The Rwanda exercise is part of a wider regional consultation process being conducted across EAC Partner States to gather public views and build consensus on the governance structures and institutional arrangements of the proposed Confederation.
The EAC Political Confederation represents the transitional stage toward the ultimate goal of a Political Federation of East African States. It is the fourth and final pillar of regional integration, following the Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union.
The Confederation model was adopted by the EAC Heads of State Summit in May 2017 as a framework for deepening political integration while preparing Partner States for eventual federation.
The constitution-making process is being guided by a Team of Experts appointed by the Summit in February 2018 and chaired by retired Uganda Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, with former Kenya Attorney General Senator Amos Wako serving as deputy chair.
According to the EAC, the proposed Confederation aims to strengthen cooperation among Partner States in areas such as political affairs, peace and security, foreign policy coordination and regional governance, while laying the foundation for a future Political Federation.
