HomeNewsEast African leaders reject Sudan's plea to join EAC

East African leaders reject Sudan’s plea to join EAC

Sudan’s efforts to boost its diplomacy suffered a major setback on Wednesday after the East African Community (EAC) Summit rejected Khartoum’s request for membership.

East African leaders, meeting in Bujumbura, the Burundian capital, rejected Sudan’s application on the grounds that the country does not conform to universally acceptable standards of human rights and has no shared boundary with any of the states.

The five leaders of the region said the Sudanese application for membership was received on 10 June 2011, but Sudan could not be accepted because Khartoum’s potential contribution to regional integration was also minimal.

Sudan’s application was considered based on national economic policies, the rule of law and human rights, the lack of a common border with any of the EAC states and the remote chance of Sudan’s membership enhancing economic integration.

“The Summit noted that according to the treaty and rules of procedure for admission of foreign countries, expansion of country membership to include any foreign country at the level of full
membership is based on set criteria,” the EAC said in a communiqué issued after the Summit Wednesday.

The leaders said Sudan’s application fell short of the criteria, requiring adherence to universally acceptable principles of democracy, good governance, the rule of law, the observance of human rights and social justice.

The leaders also said the conditions of membership also required aspiring members to establish and maintain market-driven economic policies. The social and economic policies must be compatible with those of the EAC, the Summit affirmed.

Although Sudan prides itself as a possible regional trade giant, its trade with the other East African countries has been below average.

Sudan’s combined export value stands at an average of US$10 billion. Kenya’s share of this export was 0.7%.

Sudanese officials argued EAC membership would have offered Kenya an opportunity to increase her imports of machinery, steel structures, engines, and telecommunication equipment from the Sudan.

“The Summit observed that this application does not meet the criterion on geographical proximity and contiguity and cannot therefore be considered at this point in time,” the Summit decided.

Sudanese diplomats have in recent times insisted the country’s application should not be under-rated because of the discovery of huge reserves of gold, copper, silver, phosphate, chrome, and iron which are positive for regional trade.

Diplomatic sources said Sudan’s application received a favourable hearing from the other countries, but was particularly rejected by Uganda and Tanzania.

The Summit also received South Sudan’s request, which was lodged on 11 November 2011.

“The Summit directed the Council of Ministers to verify this application on the basis of the criteria for admission of foreign countries and submit the recommendations to the Summit at its 10th meeting in 2012,” the leaders asserted.

Presidents, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, the Tanzanian Vice President Mohammed Gharib Bilal and the Rwandan Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi attended the EAC Summit

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