The 'coalition of the willing' leaders are meeting for
the tripartite infrastructure summit in Rwanda’s capital Kigali,
isolating Tanzania for the third time.
The three-day summit brings together East African
Community countries that have jointly agreed to fast-track the regional
integration, especially on aspects of monetary union and political
federation.
Tanzania has been isolated by the 'coalition of the willing’, which comprises Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
Dar es Salaam has, for a long time, faced
accusations of dragging its feet on EAC integration matters, especially
on its rigid position on issues of citizenship, land ownership and
political federation.
Last week Dar es Salaam strongly reacted to its
isolation from the infrastructure talks, accusing the coalition of
threatening EAC integration.
“So long as Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have
consciously decided to isolate us, all we can do is to leave them alone
and wish them well,” the minister for East African Community Affairs, Mr
Samwel Sitta, said.
Tanzania's isolation puts in limbo its $4.7
billion railway line project linking Dar, Kigali and Burundi, whose
construction is scheduled for 2014.
Rwanda and Uganda have given signals of their
intent to back Kenya's railway corridor linking both countries,
including South Sudan to the Kenyan coast.
Relations between Dar and Kigali have been icy
following the recent expulsion of Rwandan immigrants from western
Tanzania, and President Jakaya Kiwete’s remarks that Rwanda should
negotiate with the Hutu rebel group FDLR it’s fighting in eastern DRC.
The presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are in
Kigali to fast-tracking regional integration through grand
infrastructure projects.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir is also present at the infrastructure summit.
Juba had formally applied to join the EAC and the
status of its membership is likely to be part of the agenda of the
coalition’s meeting in Kigali.
The second infrastructure summit held two months ago in Mombasa, Kenya resolved to bring Burundi and South Sudan on board.
However, Burundi has reportedly denied membership
of the 'coalition of the willing' that has left Tanzania out in cold,
while coalition members pen multibillion dollar regional infrastructure
projects.
The second infrastructure summit also shared out
key responsibilities, with Uganda taking charge of railway development
and political federation, Kenya leading on energy development and Rwanda
on customs issues, single tourists and East African Community
e-identity card.
SOURCE: AFRICA REVIEW
SOURCE: AFRICA REVIEW
