Following a spate of terrorist attacks in Kenya that cost lives of at least 64 people in the past two weeks, some East Africans think that a solution could lie in the proposed political union of the five states – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants killed at least 36 workers at a quarry in northeastern Kenya last Tuesday, in the same Mandera region of north eastern Kenya where they hijacked a bus and killed 28 passengers, mostly teachers, about a week ago. The November 23 bus attack took place on the outskirts of Mandera town.

The East African Federation (Shirikisho la Afrika Mashariki) is a proposed political union of the five sovereign states as a single federated sovereign state with an area of 1,820,664 km². The federation would be the fourth largest nation in Africa and the 17th in the world. With a population of 143.5 million, it would be the second most populous nation in Africa (after Nigeria) and 10th in the world.

In addition to that, the five states’ combined military clout would provide a force to reckon with, even without considering the potential accession of South Sudan and Somalia to the bloc.

According to Moses Bukenya, a lecturer at Makerere University Business School, the EAC Heads of State "need to fast track the federation” as a grand strategy to get the better of the bloc’s security woes.

Bukenya sys that fast tracking the political federation – the ultimate goal of EAC integration – was the best strategy as it would ultimately fix everything, including security.

"It’s all enshrined in the political federation. Once the federation is done we shall be one country, with a united army and a shared security apparatus in terms of intelligence and response.”

At the end of last year, the 15th ordinary Summit held in Kampala, discussed the prevailing security situation and the need for concerted efforts to combat terrorism in the region. It noted "with concern” the political and security developments in Somalia and urged all parties to embrace dialogue and create an environment conducive for the implementation of Somalia’s vision 2016 as well as facilitate elections that year.

It took note of the UN Security Council resolution 2124 of November 12, 2013 regarding enhancing the military capacity of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali forces. Strengthening of the military campaign against Al-Shabaab was also looked into.

The summit reaffirmed EAC leaders’ support for the effort of the ICGLR-SADC states and the international community on peace initiatives for stabilizing eastern DR Congo where negative forces including, the FDLR, remnants of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda are holed. The DR Congo is also home to Uganda’s Allied Democratic Forces and National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF-NALU) militia.

According to the EAC Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera, issues of regional security never miss out during such summits. "One of the critical functions of the Summit, according to the treaty, is a review of the state of peace and security in the Community. So these issues are always discussed by the Summit,” Sezibera said.

From Somalia, the Al-Shabab stepped up attacks in Kenya since 2011, when the latter sent troops across the border to help battle the militants in what was initially a joint Kenyan-Ethiopia-Somali military offensive dubbed Operation Linda Nchi (protect the country) before AMISOM assumed formal command of the Kenyan forces in Somalia in mid 2012.

Al-Shabaab has in the past said they were punishing Kenya for sending troops to Somalia. They first attacked Kenya in 2008. Between then and 2012, it has struck more than 90 times.

Jenerali Ulimwengu, chairperson of the board of Raia Mwema newspaper and an advocate of the High Court in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, emphasizes need for a multi-dimensional and regional approach to security.

"I definitely think that security issues should be tackled collectively. Our region is interconnected and people and materials can move from country to country with little hindrance,” Ulimwengu said.

"Nothing happening in one country couldn’t happen elsewhere and the effects of any disruption are felt regionally. Also perceived weaknesses in regional cooperation in security arrangements will be exploited by would be malefactors”.

Threat to business

As for Rwanda, remnants of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, continue to be a menace. The FDLR has from time to time, mounted attacks – from its DR Congo sanctuary – especially on border districts such as Rubavu, killing civilians. The militia jointly with other Rwandan dissidents’ network is blamed for the spate of grenade attacks in Kigali that have claimed lives in the past.

Therese Dusabe, president of Iark Consessioner, a Rwandan car importing group, says her business forte is "not seriously affected at the moment” but she conceded that terrorism needs to be halted through combined efforts before it deteriorates.

"Terrorism affects businesses in the region and, it is partly why we opted for the Dar es Salaam route and not Mombasa. But, by and large, our domain [car trade] hasn’t really been affected much,” said Dusabe who is also the first vice president of the Rwandan chamber of women entrepreneurs.

She noted that "for sure,” EAC leaders ought to work out strategies to curb the threat before it gets worse.

"They need to prevent it before it gets worse as it has been in Nigeria where Boko Haram [militant Islamist terrorist group based in northeast Nigeria] is causing havoc. Everyone knows that security comes first in everything – there would be no business without security. I trust our leaders are working on it.”

When the 16th ordinary EAC leaders Summit convenes, sometime soon, a road map for the EAC Political Federation will be one of the key items to be discussed by the leaders.