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| EAC Deputy Secretary General, Beatrice Kiraso |
By Nicodemus Ikonko
East African News Agency
ARUSHA
Incidents of violent conflict in East Africa have impeded the region's socio-economic development and must be dealt with urgently, according to Beatrice Kiraso, the deputy secretary-general of the East African Community (EAC) in charge of political federation.
"Such criminal acts are likely to chase away business opportunities and cause potential investments and tourists to shun the region; if not dealt with, these threats would greatly undermine the progress of EAC integration," Kiraso said when she opened a three-day workshop on the roadmap for the operationalization of the EAC Early Warning Mechanism (EACWARN) , according to a speech availed to the Independent East African News Agency (EANA) Tuesday.
She said the region was vulnerable to new emerging security challenges, which include piracy, terrorism, human and illicit drug trafficking, water and resource scarcity and, most recently, kidnapping of tourists. Kiraso said the first Treaty of the EAC, which collapsed in 1977, did not address peace and security concerns but instead focused on economic integration. She added that the new EAC recognizes peace and security as
prerequisites to social and economic development and vital to the achievement of the objective of the same.
The EAC, she said, adopted a regional strategy on peace and security in November 2006 aimed at enhancing peace and security matters in the region.
"The strategy provides for the establishment of Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (CPMR) Mechanism, and in its goal 15, the
establishment of Early Warning Mechanism,’’ she said.
She told the participants at the workshop that the Early Warning Mechanism would facilitate the anticipation, preparedness and early responses to
prevent, contain and manage situations that are likely to affect peace and security in the region.
The Head of EAC-GIZ Programme, Niels von Keyserlingk, said conflicts constituted the single greatest barrier to economic and social development
in the EAC region and pledged continued support towards their eradication.
“The region has been the site of several armed conflicts, severe environmental degradation and general livelihood insecurity,” he said, adding that the sub-region has come to be defined by the number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the recent past. Against this
background, Von Keyserlingk called for urgent innovative regional peace and security structures.
“Conflict early warning is a pre-condition for preventive action,” he said in his opening remarks.
East African News Agency
ARUSHA
Incidents of violent conflict in East Africa have impeded the region's socio-economic development and must be dealt with urgently, according to Beatrice Kiraso, the deputy secretary-general of the East African Community (EAC) in charge of political federation.
"Such criminal acts are likely to chase away business opportunities and cause potential investments and tourists to shun the region; if not dealt with, these threats would greatly undermine the progress of EAC integration," Kiraso said when she opened a three-day workshop on the roadmap for the operationalization of the EAC Early Warning Mechanism (EACWARN) , according to a speech availed to the Independent East African News Agency (EANA) Tuesday.
She said the region was vulnerable to new emerging security challenges, which include piracy, terrorism, human and illicit drug trafficking, water and resource scarcity and, most recently, kidnapping of tourists. Kiraso said the first Treaty of the EAC, which collapsed in 1977, did not address peace and security concerns but instead focused on economic integration. She added that the new EAC recognizes peace and security as
prerequisites to social and economic development and vital to the achievement of the objective of the same.
The EAC, she said, adopted a regional strategy on peace and security in November 2006 aimed at enhancing peace and security matters in the region.
"The strategy provides for the establishment of Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (CPMR) Mechanism, and in its goal 15, the
establishment of Early Warning Mechanism,’’ she said.
She told the participants at the workshop that the Early Warning Mechanism would facilitate the anticipation, preparedness and early responses to
prevent, contain and manage situations that are likely to affect peace and security in the region.
The Head of EAC-GIZ Programme, Niels von Keyserlingk, said conflicts constituted the single greatest barrier to economic and social development
in the EAC region and pledged continued support towards their eradication.
“The region has been the site of several armed conflicts, severe environmental degradation and general livelihood insecurity,” he said, adding that the sub-region has come to be defined by the number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the recent past. Against this
background, Von Keyserlingk called for urgent innovative regional peace and security structures.
“Conflict early warning is a pre-condition for preventive action,” he said in his opening remarks.
A representative from AU Peace and Security Department, Charles Mwaura, urged the EAC to step up efforts to attain the early warning mechanism, decrying the slow process of implementation.
“The region has been embroiled in different serious conflicts and disasters, including human trafficking and terrorism, and it is high time that it intensified its efforts and adopted an early warning mechanism,’’ Mwaura, who is the AU’s expert on conflict early warning and preventive
diplomacy, said.
The workshop was held with support from GIZ, which has assisted the EAC Conflict Prevention Mechanism Resolution (CPMR) activities as well small
arms and light weapons programme.
The workshop is expected to develop a draft operational plan which will later be fine-tuned by Partner States experts.
“The region has been embroiled in different serious conflicts and disasters, including human trafficking and terrorism, and it is high time that it intensified its efforts and adopted an early warning mechanism,’’ Mwaura, who is the AU’s expert on conflict early warning and preventive
diplomacy, said.
The workshop was held with support from GIZ, which has assisted the EAC Conflict Prevention Mechanism Resolution (CPMR) activities as well small
arms and light weapons programme.
The workshop is expected to develop a draft operational plan which will later be fine-tuned by Partner States experts.
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