Local News

by Edward Selasini

The East African Community ( EAC) on Friday July 13 launched in Arusha Nyerere Center for Peace Research. The center has been named after Tanzania's founding president Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere who is internationally revered as the champion of African liberation.

Attending the launching ceremony were senior government officials from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and scholars from the United States.

According to Beatrice Kiraso, Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation), East African Community , the Nyerere Centre for Peace Research was the product of the meeting of minds uniting common objectives as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of August 2006 between the EAC and the Arcadia University of the US , regarding the International Peace Research and Conflict Programmme.

The center was therefore set up as an EAC institution in collaboration with the Arcadia University to study peace, security and conflict resolution in East Africa. The objective of the Nyerere Center for Peace Research is to undertake research and exchange programs on conflict management and resolution, said Beatrice Kiraso.

Eriya Kategaya, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers said during the launching Ceremony that the establishment of the Centre has to be viewed in the light of the intensification of the East Africa Community integration process.

"The encouraging process of the East African Custom Union, the on going process of the East African Common Market as well as the consultations on fast tracking the process towards East African Federation, all herald a serious determination of the East African people and the leadership to construct a powerful East African economic and political bloc" said Kategaya.

The enlargement of the community now comprising Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi with combined population of 120 million, land area of 1.85 million square kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 40 billion, bears great strategic and geopolitical significance, imposing on the EAC Partner States enormous responsibility for regional defense and security.
 

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