Demystify. Unpack. Explain
*EXCLUSIVE:
"EAST AFRICA RISING" TURNS FIVE*
*ACCRA, Ghana (10 June, 2019)* -- In a year (and month) in which we celebrate five years of "Africa in Focus", the only Pan-African initiative of its kind in Ghana, and probably the sub-region, we are happy to also be celebrating *East Africa*, which is a region that lends itself to significant comparisons and important scrutiny.
That the only continental institution of its kind in the world, the African Union, has its headquarters in East Africa, may already be sufficient for study. But there is more. East Africa is home to:
A sophisticated and efficient *mobile money architecture* (cross-border transactions are becoming the new normal, where in West Africa, we have not quite gotten there!)
A *regional legislature*, which laws are binding on six members of the East African Community (EAC)
A *Northern Corridor Initiative* that is helping fast-track integration on sectors across specific East African countries
An AU peace enforcement force in *AMISOM* that is underwritten by the UN Security Council, and combines an offensive mandate (ability to kill terrorists) alongside its multi-dimensional capabilities of training
A *budget day* for the whole region (14 June), which can help align *regional priorities and expenditure* in ways in which does not happen in West Africa.
How Kenya's 2018 Elections offered Mental pabulum on East Africa's integration
In the wake of Kenya's elections in 2018, the venerable Stephen Yeboah, an international development professional, wondered why Ecowas appears to be lagging behind regional blocs like the East African Community. For the benefit of discussion, I am reprising my answer below:
"I could write a whole thesis on this...it's mostly on economic integration that Ecowas is lagging behind EAC. In most sectors, Ecowas has trumped EAC. Studies that claim EAC has done better mostly filter the analysis through economic integration.
Let's quickly look at EAC on peace and security. Let's consider how long Nkurunzinzi has been in power in Burundi. An absence of an EAC peace & security architecture has meant none of the six member States of the EAC(South Sudan joined Feb 2016) are able to deal with him. Look at how Ecowas dealt with Jammeh.
On free movement, EAC is a little more advanced in how mere ID cards can be used to travel within the sub-region. Ecowas, conversely, is still struggling to get all member States, including Ghana, to toe the Ecowas Biometric ID Card. Senegal is most advanced and is in distribution phase, even if with challenges.
On the language, I am beginning to believe it's a myth. Apart from Ecomog in Liberia in 1990, there have been instances of anglophone-francophone cooperation in Ecowas. An Ecowas Rail Masterplan, plus the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor are examples of how francophone and anglophone West Africa can work together towards a goal.
In the early days of Ecowas, it was actually Nigeria-Togo collaboration that triggered what we know as Ecowas today. Two decades ago, francophone West Africa feared Nigeria, hence initial reluctance to work together. These days, the fear is far less, and more welcoming of Nigeria's pivotal role in West Africa's integration.
On money, EAC still relies on donor funds from the EU & Western partners. Yet, since Ecowas' treaty was revised in 1993, article 70 has meant that Ecowas raises financing through an Ecowas levy -- a model Kagame picked on for AU's financing of Member States. At one point, Ecowas had a surplus of 252 million USD in its coffers -- thanks to the levy. This is something I wrote about in 2011.
Another thing I wanted to point out was how EAC in its current form follows the 1967 model that collapsed in 1977. In many ways, some of the institutions were carried on to the "EAC -- mach 2", which was revived in 2000.
Simply put, East Africa has had a second shot with the EAC and learnt from some mistakes. Conversely, Ecowas has been on course since 1975 without collapsing and starting over. In many ways, ECOMOG in Liberia was a major catalyst for the growth of Ecowas. In addition, in 2013, the Northern Corridor Integration Project (linking Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan) was born to fast-track EAC's integration. The objective of fast-tracking is an important nuance general observers of East Africa's integration may miss…"
ABOUT EAST AFRICA RISING
EAR is an initiative of the Africa in Focus (AIF) Research and Communications Unit (ReComm) that seeks to integrate East African perspectives, and best practices in conversations around West, and Southern African integration.
Using whatsapp largely as the flagship communicating tool, it serves as a catalyst for conversations on the African narrative. The group has expanded from merely East African countries in 2014 and 2015 to include strategic countries from the SADC region. In 2018 and 2019, EAR has enjoyed membership from SADC/COMESA countries, as well as those from Gambia and Liberia (in the West African Monetary Zone countries).
EAR is now in its *fourth iteration* (East Africa Rising 4.0) since it started in 2014. It now includes strategic SADC countries ( *Zambia; Zimbabwe; Botswana & Namibia*), all of which play critical roles in the Southern African region. The game-changer to transforming EAR 3.0 to EAR 4.0 was South Africa. Although membership includes diasporans living in South Africa, the inclusion of a consummate South African journalist/producer brings representation of the three hegemons of Kenya; Nigeria; and South Africa into this most unique of Pan-Africanist groups that has already spilled over from the virtual to offline, and will continue to do so as it moves to East Africa Rising 5.0 over the next couple of years.
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Africa in Focus Show seeks to demystify, unpack, and explain developments within institutions of ECOWAS; the African Union; East Africa; & South-South cooperation.First airborne in 2014, and with 5 Seasons under its belt, the Show is known as a reference for quality analysis on Africa.
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