Communication Office

PRESS STATEMENT

(For Immediate Release)

 Friday, September 26,2019, Nairobi, Kenya

The Interim Chairperson of RJMEC, Amb. Lt. Gen. Augustino S.K. Njoroge (Rtd) presented a paper on “Integrating South Sudan in the East African Community” at the High-Level Conference on Trade Integration 2019 held from 25 – 27 September 2019 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. This Conference was convened by the Secretariat of the EAC on the theme: Enhancing trade integration in the East African Community. 

In his presentation, the Interim Chairperson demonstrated how the South Sudan peace process is a critical ingredient for her successful and effective political integration in the EAC. He argues that post-conflict stabilization, including all necessary reforms that would result in independent, accountable and strong institutions of governance in South Sudan are crucial for effective and holistic integration in the EAC.

The Interim Chairperson further stated that Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) provides an opportunity for facilitating effective integration of a peaceful, democratic and prosperous South Sudan in the EAC. He adds, “the R-ARCSS offers a broad framework to achieve the aspiration for stabilization of the country through a series of comprehensive political, security, humanitarian, economic and constitutional reforms”.

The Interim Chairperson concluded that the integration of South Sudan in the EAC should be expedited and not wait for the end of the transitional period. 

Finally, the Interim Chairperson recommended that the EAC should engage more with South Sudan and give her special considerations in view of her current post-conflict status, and also appealed to the EAC member states to support their South Sudan counterpart to fully implement the Revitalized Peace Agreement.     -–Ends--