President Salva Kiir receives EALA Speaker

East African Legislative Assembly, Juba, Republic of South Sudan: March 27, 2017: President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayarditlate last weekheld cordial discussions with theEALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega in State House, Juba.

The President was emphatic that Republic of South Sudan would benefit a great deal from the integration process and said his country was happy to be part of the regional economic bloc.

“The geographical location of South Sudan itself even without much description makes it a natural and perfect choice to belong to the bloc” President Kiir said.

The President hailed EALA for its contribution to the integration process through the legislative agenda, affirming that Republic of South Sudan had already completed the elections of its Members to the 4^th Assembly and was rearing to go.   He urged the Speaker and the Assembly to go flat out in creating awareness about the integration process in the Republic of South Sudan.

"Your coming here today is a blessing as it will also educate our Parliamentarians”, President Kiir said while calling for capacity building of the legislators and the citizens of the country to embrace the opportunities on offer in the bloc.

The President remarked that Republic of South Sudan was pursuing stability and saidGovernment was committed to the peace initiative and keen to address the myriad of challenges occasioned by the war.

On his part, EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidegahailed South Sudan’s admission in to the EAC as timely, given the linguistic and cultural connections the young nation shares with the bloc and said its full and total integration was of absolute importance. He informed President Kiir of the Assembly’s total support towards initiatives aimed at uniting the country and lauded the Peace Agreement to this effect.  He remarked that Africa’s challenges would ideally be solved by the African people themselves.

The Speaker remarked that the region needed to be more vigilant in the fight against terrorism.  

He informed the President that EALA regularly meets in the Partner States and had employed the principle of rotation when holding its Sittings.

“We shall at an appropriate time sit here in Juba and will be requesting you to address the Assembly then, Your Excellency,” the Speaker said, receiving an affirmative nod from President Salva Kiir.

Later in the afternoon, the Speaker called on the 1^st Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Taban Deng Gai at his Office.  The First Vice President maintained thatGovernment of South Sudan prioritisedrestoration of normalcy in the country and termed reforms as one of the mainstays of the process. He said President Salva Kiir and the Government had institutionalised national dialogue and asked the EAC to follow up on the matter keenly.

H.E. Taban Deng also rallied the EAC Partner States to support the Republic of South Sudan to help the nascent nation towards improving its economy, which he said, had suffered as a result of the war.  He remarked that the EAC was a natural choice for South Sudan and said the country was gearing up to take advantage of the opportunities.

The Vice President was emphatic that the envisaged deployment of the Regional Protection Force with forces from the region would play a key role in the disarmament process and add more value in stabilizing the nation, which is preparing for polls in the next 20 months.

“There needs to be peace in the country in order to enable the citizens to go about developing the country in a more free and conducive environment”, H.E. Taban Deng said.

Meanwhile, the EALA Speaker and his counterpart at the Transitional National Assembly of South Sudan, Rt Hon Anthony Lino Makana held fruitful discussions at the Parliament of South Sudan.

Rt Hon Kidega welcomed the Republic of South Sudan to the regional Assembly in particular, saying the 4^th Assembly would continue to be a major player in the integration process.

“The 4^th Assembly of which South Sudan will participate in, needs to consolidate on the gains and strengthen the integration process even further. Key legislation that anchor the Common Market Protocol and the Monetary Union will be useful. Another key area may be the one of ensuring the Assembly gains full autonomy over time”, Speaker Kidega said.

Rt Hon Kidega spoke of some of the achievements of the 3^rd Assembly and cited some of the significant milestones to include passage of 28 Bills, adoption of over 65 Resolutions and 80 reports, processing of 5 petitions and the revision of the Rules of Procedure to strengthen the instruments of governance.

On his part, the Speaker of the Transitional Assembly of South Sudan, Rt Hon Anthony Lino Makana remarked that the country was expected to benefit a great deal from the integration process.

In attendance were First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly, Rt Hon Timothy T. Chol and the Deputy Speaker (in charge of Administration and Finance) Hon Dr Awel Mawien.

The EALA Speaker also held discussions with the Speaker of the Council of States, Rt Hon Joseph Bol Chan and the Adviser to the President on Integration and Economic Affairs, Hon Aggrey Tisa Sabuni.

Two weeks ago, the Secretary General of the Community Amb Liberat Mfumukeko led a delegation of EAC Executives and senior officials in meeting with a high-power delegation of the RSS.  The Secretary General remarked that EAC would engage in a capacity building programme for Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Republic of South Sudan would focus on all aspects around the EAC integration.

Republic of South Sudan was admitted in to the EAC last year in April 2016 after H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed the accession Treaty in Dar es Salaam.   H.E. Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, Chair of the EAC Heads of State Summit, hosted the President of South Sudan at the ceremony in State House Dar es Salaam.  The Republic of South Sudan thereafter deposited the instruments of ratification of the Treaty for accession with the EAC Secretary General. A month earlier (March 2016), at the 17^th Ordinary Summit taking place in Arusha, the EAC Heads of State Summit approved the admission of the new country. 

Being admitted to the regional body means that Republic of South Sudan will enjoy all the economic benefits on offer through the Customs Union Protocol and Common Market Protocol. Sudan will also benefit from the region as it moves to increase economic integration through a Monetary Union and eventually, establish a Political Federation.

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