The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi has met with the Speaker of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gen. James Wani Igga in Dar es Salaam today. At the meeting, the two Speakers called for cessation to the hostilities between South Sudan and the Sudan noting that an unstable South Sudan meant an unstable EAC.
The Speaker of the South Sudan further implored the EAC to move fast with regards to its application to join the economic bloc noting that his country was eager to be counted as a Member.
The Sudan Speaker was an official two day visit to the region. He is accompanied by four legislators of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly. They are Hon Henry Dilah Odwar, Chair, Committee of Energy and Mining, Hon Mary Atong Bak, Deputy Chair, Committee of Information and Culture, Hon Dr. Kuong Dak Wie, MP and a Member of staff, Mr, James William Ladu.
The South Sudan Speaker narrated the events of the current impasse that Khartoum and Juba are embroiled in and added that 63 lives had been already lost. He appealed to the EAC, UN and the international community to step in so as to avoid any more bloodshed, noting that, it was time for his country to go the development way, promote education and good governance. Such ideals, he added, would be realized in an environment of peace.
On economic development, Rt. Hon Wani said that South Sudan offered a lot of investment opportunities and told the private sector at the EAC to cash in on the opportunities.
‘We have plenty of oil resources as well as minerals such as diamond and gold and it is important that the region benefits”, the Speaker said, adding that the entry into the Community would create a market for his country.
On his part, Rt.Hon Abdi appealed for calm and told both Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan to amicably resolve the stand-off which he remarked stood in the way of peace for the EAC as well. He supported the fast-tracking of the entry of South Sudan into the EAC and stated that a Committee on Verification put in place by the Summit of the EAC Heads of State was soon headed to Juba to ascertain its readiness and suitability for the economic bloc.
Present at the press conference were Members of EALA House Business Committee including: Hon Otieno Karan, Hon Abdullah Mwinyi, Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye, Hon Patricia Hajabakiga, Hon Jacqueline Muhongayire. Others were Hon Dora Byamukama, Hon Reuben Oyondi and the Clerk of EALA, Mr. Kenneth Madete.
Earlier on the South Sudan delegation called on the Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, Rt. Hon Anna Makinda where discussions also delved on the need for peace in the two neighbouring countries.
The delegation leaves for Nairobi, Kenya where a series of meetings are planned.
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For More Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
