The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso, has underscored the role of political parties in the formation of a political union for the region, adding that without them, the whole idea is doomed to failure.

Kiraso’s remarks comes just a few days to the first EAC Regional meeting of Political Parties scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya next Thursday.

"We cannot talk about a regional government and therefore a President and cabinet and parliament, if political parties are not on board,” Kiraso said in an interview with The New Times yesterday.

The EAC official added that since all the five EAC countries are multi-party democracies, they have an important role to play in ensuring peaceful political electoral processes as a conflict prevention measure in the region.

She said that about 200 participants from political parties, electoral bodies, security agencies are expected at the meeting

Among other topics, the officials will debate on issues of registration, internal party democracy, conduct of political parties during and after elections as well as their role in peace building.

EAC Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera, recently said that the EAC Partner States were concerned about the problems in Somalia and the Sudan, but added that these would not affect the bloc’s political federation agenda.

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