Talks on South Sudan EAC admission due in November

TALKS on the admission of South Sudan into East African Community (EAC) have been put on hold until some partner states fully understand its level of conformity with the desired standards, regional ministers have directed. The decision was taken during the 25 meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers in Bujumbura, Burundi on Saturday.In July this year, a verification committee composed of three experts from each partner state and three others from the EAC secretariat was dispatched to undertake the verification of the application by South Sudan.“The council noted that some partner states still needed more time to consult on the verification committee report with all the key stakeholders and hence decided that the report will be considered during the 26th meeting of the council in November 2012,” reads an EAC statement.The overall objective of the verification exercise was to establish South Sudan‘s level of conformity with the criteria for admission into the EAC as provided under article 3 of the EAC Treaty.At the meeting, the ministers also called for proper timing and wider consultations with other international players involved in the Somali peace initiatives before Somalia joins the EAC.In an effort to clearly have the region understand the kind of political federation needed and what it should entail, the ministers were presented with a developed zero draft of the model and structure of the EAC Political Federation.To this end, the draft will now be circulated among partner states for their response before convening a retreat of experts with a view of improving the draft by October.The admission of South Sudan is expected to strategically benefit Sudan, whose request to join the bloc was thwarted last year on the basis that the vast country did not share any border with a partner state.

National

Talks on South Sudan EAC admission due in November