(PHOTO CREDITS: Courtesy DAILY NATION)
The East African Community already had its fair share of woes, way before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Burundi had, twice consecutively, frustrated convening of the 20th summit of EAC of Heads of State. Rwanda and Uganda have been on each other’s necks for more than two years. Tanzania and Kenya, on the other hand, continue their protracted duel on trade barriers.
These woes even had some pundits already prophesying a clear path towards disintegration of the EAC in the not-so-distant future.
But the manner in which the bloc has conducted itself in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, and rolling out mitigation measures, has been depressingly inadequate. It has revealed just how hollow and incompetent the union remains.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
To step back a bit, the EAC is established and buttressed on the idea of international cooperation, multilateralism and regional integration.
By its own creed and stated objectives, one would expect that a regional, intergovernmental organisation of its stature would step up to the challenge and live up to its bidding when most relevant.
