IGAD set to become free trade area in 2009 - Chief
East African Business Week, Uganda
IGAD set to become free trade area in 2009 - Chief
By John Musinguzi
29 November 2008
KAMPALA, UGANDA - The seven-member regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is set to become a free trade area.
IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Eng. Mahboub Maalim last week at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo in Kampala said early next year the region will roll into a harmonized entity with free movement of people, goods and services.
“We have completed an integration plan for IGAD, including free movement of people and other basic harmonization issues. An IGAD-based free trade area: yes, we are already deep into it with domestication of COMESA and other regional organisations,” confidently said Maalim. Maalim was presenting to the 8th Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Secretaries of CEWARN/IGAD on November 27, 2008. Maalim announced that IGAD, which is now 24 years old, is soon embarking on performance contracting for all IGAD secretariat and field staff to ensure corporate-type efficient governance. He emphasized that there will be no tolerance for political favouritism under the new system geared at achieving professional efficiency in delivery of public services.
The meeting followed on the heels of the 6th Meeting of the Technical Committee on Early Warning and Response (TCEWR) of the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CERWAN) that took place November 24-25, 2008 at the same venue.
June Munala, the Communications Officer of CEWARN explained to EABW that CEWARN is a core programme of IGAD established by protocol in 2002 to monitor conflicts in the region and provide recommendations for the member states to act upon.
With a resident unit in a given ministry in each member state, its own field staff, associated research institution in each member state and involving the local communities and civil society organizations, CEWARN has done a lot towards management of conflict, especially cross-border cattle rustling and arms trafficking.
CEWARN keeps detailed monitoring of three pilot areas identified for their high incidence of conflict and violence. The three are the Karamoja Cluster which affects Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan; the Somali Cluster concerning Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia; and the Afar Issa Cluster that affects Ethiopia and Djibouti. The two meetings registered successes in reduction of illegal arms especially following the joint disarmament operations by Uganda and Kenya in the Karamoja Cluster.
Progress was also recorded in increasing funding to carry out the increased activities of CEWARN and its various local units, especially the setting up of a rapid response fund that has already secured substantial seed money from members and donors. Other achievements include livestock branding; reconciliation and peace agreements between previously hostile ethnic communities; basic educational campaigns to help reduce warrior and violent beliefs and traditions; and increased state presence in remote areas. Progress has also been recorded in issuance of valuable alerts; relief services; improved relations between state and non-state actors; capacity building; and development programmes by governments.
There was celebration of formation of peace committees at grassroots and communal alliances for peace such as that between Turkana and Dassanech; Turkana and Matheniko (since 1974); and Turkana and Nyangatom.
IGAD members are Ethiopia (current chair); Kenya; Djibouti; Eritrea; Sudan; Uganda and Somalia.
