Rwanda has written to the east AfricanSecretary-General Liberat Mfumukeko requesting for the postponement of the 21st ordinary of the summit of the East African Community heads of states. This conference was scheduled to take place at the Arusha International Conference Center on the 30th November 2019.
In a letter written by the Rwandan minister of state in charge of the East African community Olivier Nduhungirehe.
He said “I have the honour to both inform and request you to notify partner states that the above-mentioned summit has been postponed to a later date in January or February 2020 due to a request by a member of the summit,”
“A new date will be communicated later after consultations between the EAC Heads of State,” he added.
According to Rule 11 of the Rules of Procedure of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, the quorum is made of all Partner States representation which is in consonance with decision making by consensus under Article 12 of the Treaty.
This, therefore, means without representation of one of the heads of state for the member country there is no quorum hence it is against the rule of procedure for a meeting to be convened.
Although this is not the official stand of Rwanda, its is believed by many political analysts that Rwanda has decided to snub the meeting given the tense relations that exist between Rwanda and a number of other states, for example, Uganda and Burundi hence its probable that Rwanda officials didn’t want to have a confrontation with the leaders of these countries with which they are at loggerheads.
Rwanda continues to accuse the Kampala government of arbitrary arrest of its citizens living in Uganda and not taking them to courts of law for a fair trial.
However, the Kampala authorities have strongly protested the Kigali accusations and have called out Kigali to provide a list of names of the Rwandese citizens that are acclaimed to be arrested without being presented to courts of law in Kampala for trail but Rwanda is yet to do so.
This situation forced the Rwanda government to refuse all Rwandan nationals from entering Uganda, especially via land through the various land border points such as Katuna, Cyanika and Kagitumba where the Rwandan nationals aren’t granted permission to leave Rwanda.
However, Rwandans can still visit Uganda by air especially flying on the country’s national carrier Rwandair and Ugandans and tourists alike who wish to visit Kigali or Rwanda for a Rwanda safari experience are free to do so as all entry points to Rwanda are open to them.
Tensions between Kigali and Kampala have been further heightened in recent days after Rwandan security forces shot and killed two Ugandan business men within the Rwandan territories.
The Rwanda government officials say that these people were shot because these men tried to smuggled goods into Rwanda without using the designated entry points and when the authorities wanted to apprehend them, they resisted arrest hence pushing the security personnel to a decision to open fire at them.
The leaders had also planned to review a report on the integration of a fragile South Sudan and consider progress on the verification exercise for the admission of Somalia and DR Congo into the bloc. All these stand to be discussed in another meeting whose dates are yet to be declared
Even with the current uncertainty that lingers over the 21st ordinance summit of heads of states, the sideline meeting that had been scheduled to take place are seemingly in the green light to push to occur as had earlier been planned.
Amb Nduhungirehe in his communique to the EAC Secretary General, proposes that the meetings of the senior officials, coordination committee and the 39th council of ministers, as well as the business and investment summit, take place as initially planned.
“As requested by the chair of the summit of EAC Heads of State, following your submission to him in a meeting you had on Saturday 16th November 2019 in Kigali, I wish to request you to schedule a one day dedicated session of the council of ministers and heads of EAC organs and institutions to take place on Friday 29th November 2019,” said Amb Nduhungirehe.
He proposed that the agenda of the meeting focusses on review and finalization of the new structure of EAC organs and institutions approved by the council of ministers in October 2019; review the budgeting and recruitment processes as well as consideration of the administrative and budgetary matters, including reduction of the recurrent budget and elaboration of an administration of the EAC secretariat Act.
when it comes to smooth tourists movement, both Kigali and Kampala authorities have maintained an open border policy and this has freely allowed Africa safari-goers who would like to make either a Rwanda gorilla safari coupled with a Uganda gorilla safari or a Uganda wildlife safari experience to freely cross from one country to another flawlessly. This has allowed tourism to thrive even amidst all the diplomatic crisis that is unfolding among between these 2 states.
Uganda is a country of immense natural beauty and wonders and Africa tour travellers can comfortably to wooed by this country given its rich wildlife biodiversity.
If you’re looking for making encounters with Africa’s savanna wildlife mammals then make a Uganda safari to any of Uganda wildlife safari destinations such as Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
This Uganda safari tour experience gives you an enchanted opportunity to enjoy thrilling encounters with several of the 5 big Africa game which include lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, African bush elephants and rhinos as well as a variety of other wild mammals.
Since Uganda is one of the highly revered Africa birding safari destinations, a Uganda bird watching safari to any of these parks gives chance to catch glimpses of several of the 1070 bird species that roam the skies of this beautiful pearl of Africa.
Rwanda as well is also an Africa wildlife safari destination that will never disappoint with an Africa wildlife safari to Akagera National Park culminates into sightings of the African big 5 and many more.
Rwanda has over the years positioned itself as an Africa gorilla safari destination of choice to luxury travellers as it has invested heavily giving a top-notch gorilla trekking safari Rwanda experience to luxury tourists who interest themselves in having a memorable Africa gorilla tour. Rwanda gorilla tours take you to Volcanoes National Park which is home to the magical gorillas.
Besides gorillas, Rwanda is also a top-notch cultural and historical destination given the unique culture of the Rwandese people.
One of Rwanda’s biggest tourist export is its really saddening history that is premised on the Rwanda’s genocide of 1994 which really left deep scars on hearts of Rwandan people especially those that lived, witnessed and survived the genocide and those that were born after this dark period in the history of this country and also in more than one way altered the coarse of a nation in unimaginable ways.
Are you in for a thrilling Rwanda gorilla safari or a Uganda tour? Check out our Rwanda gorilla tracking safaris website. This website gives you a myriad of Rwanda gorilla tour packages.
Rwanda gorilla safaris are carried out in Volcanoes National Park, Volcanoes is home to over 10 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you an ultimate Rwanda gorilla tour experience.
These gorilla trekking safaris Rwanda have been classified into short Rwanda gorilla tours and these run between 1- 5 days for example 1 day Rwanda gorilla safari tours and 2 days Rwanda gorilla safaris.
There are also long Rwanda safari tours, these run between 6-9 days for example 6 days Rwanda gorilla chimpanzee safaris.
Since Uganda is also another fascinating Africa safari destination which shares quite similar attractions like Rwanda has, these attractions in range from savanna wildlife attractions that are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
Uganda is also a gorilla destination and Uganda gorilla safaris are carried out either in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which can be visited for a spectacular Uganda gorilla tour experience.
Regardless of the length of your stay in Africa, you can enjoy either a short Uganda safari tour or a long Uganda safari tour experience visiting several attractions in Uganda.
However, if you don’t want to miss out on experiencing what each country has to offer, you can also have a combined Uganda Rwanda safari tours options which will see you visit the two countries of Uganda and Rwanda in a single safari package such as 5 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.
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