Partner States of the East African Community (EAC) have been called upon to provide financial assistance to the Secretariat if the community’s activities are to run smoothly.

The call was made by the Deputy Secretary General of EAC in charge of finance and administration, Dr Julius Tangus Rotich. He is in the country to attend the 23rd Extra-Ordinary meeting of East African Community council of ministers.

According to Rotich, there are various community activities that need financial backing.

"We have challenges of financial resources to fund several projects, like the negotiations of a Monetary Union. There is therefore a need for the members to consider that,” he said.

He further explained that by the end of this year, the EAC Secretariat will relocate to a new building, calling on member countries to provide financial assistance to equip it.

The new building will be situated next to the Arusha International Conference Centre, the present location of the EAC Secretariat.

It will accommodate the three organs of the EAC, namely, the Secretariat, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
 
Meanwhile, among the issues to be discussed at the 23rd Extra-Ordinary meeting are the consideration of the finance and administration report , road map for the integration of the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda into the EAC and financing of some activities of the Community.

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