BUJUMBURA May 24th (ABP) – The president of the Senate, Emmanuel Sinzohagera, and the speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe, returned on Sunday May 21, 2023, from a working mission in Arusha in the United Republic of Tanzania, where they had participated in the 15th meeting of the bureau of the presidents of the parliaments of the East African Community (EAC) member countries.
Arriving at the Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura, Mr. Ndabirabe told the press that in that meeting, discussions were held on the subject of the treaty governing the EAC which, according to him, currently has shortcomings. On that issue, the participants recommended that the executive amend the treaty.
Mr. Ndabirabe also pointed out that the executive of the EAC member States was asked, for this reason, to instruct the ministers so that the Cabinet could meet and analyze the issue of amendment and then propose the result at the level of the summit of the Heads of States in the direction that was validated by the conference.
The Speakers of the parliaments of the EAC member countries also recommended to the executive the creation of a general secretariat of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), to facilitate the work of that institution and the collaboration of national parliaments, he said, while explaining that for the moment, there is no legal text that allows them to work well to exchange reports between EALA and national parliaments, which Mr. Ndabirabe considers a major challenge.
The Speaker of the National Assembly also said during that 15th meeting of the Bureau of Speakers of Parliaments of EAC member countries, the issue of the financial health of the EAC was analyzed. On that, it was noted that there are countries that do not contribute regularly, which means that some countries have arrears.
During the meeting, he added, it was proposed that the countries that have arrears should pay them for the proper functioning of that community.
Mr. Ndabirabe also indicated that the speakers of parliaments have also pleaded for the use of the French language in the EAC in a legal manner, arguing that despite the fact that the Heads of States of that community have approved the use of this language, the implementation is not yet possible.