EALA Committee in Burundi to assess safety and security on Lake Tanganyika

Burundi's Karerwa Mo-Mamo(Right) and Victor Burikukiye talking to the stakeholders at Roca Golf in Bujumbura on March 9th, 2022. PHOTO| Burundi Times

The East African Legislative Assembly members of the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution kicked off their assessment activity on Tuesday 8th March, 2022 in Bujumbura to assess the measures instituted by the partner states for the safety and security of movement of people and goods on Tanganyika.

The committee included Burundi’s Hon. Karerwa Mo-Mamo, Burikukiye Victor, Christopher Nduwayo and Rwada’s Pierre Celestin Rwigema.

Burundi Times | Burundi Times Stakeholders exchanging information and views during the assessment meeting in Bujumbura on March 9th,2022.

The part of the committee met with stakeholders in Bujumbura’s Roca Golf hotel where stakeholders including police and the navy exchanged information and the status of safety and security of people and goods using Lake Tangayika.

The committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution was divided into three with same activities being conducted in Uganda and Tanzania on Lake Victoria.

The objectives of the activity is to assess security and safety threats with regards to free movement of people and goods on Lake Victoria and Tanganyika to understand the mechanisms employed to curb the security challenges on the region’s shared inland water bodies.

“Also to assess existence of joint surveillance measures for safety, security and rescue matters on Lake Victoria and Tanganyika and the status of implementation of the common market protocol,” a statement reads from EALA.

Burundi Times | Burundi Times EALA’s Christopher Nduwayo pausing questions to stakeholders during the assessment meeting in Bujumbura on March 9th, 2022.

The statement further indicated that the activity was also part to assess legal, regulatory and policy frameworks at EAC and partner states level, “and coordination and harmonization of policies, laws and regulations governing utilization of Lake Victoria and Tanganyika.”

Part of the objectives is to understand mechanisms in place to control and reduce illegal fishing, pollution and environmental degradation. During the oversight activity, the committee members on regional affairs and conflict resolution will interact with the stakeholders responsible for the safety and security on the movement of people and goods on Lake Victoria and Tanganyika.

These include ministry in charge of EAC affairs, ministry of water and environment, ministry of works and transport department of immigration office, local government agencies, security agencies, non- governmental organizations, and maritime authority.

The committee is divided into three groups, each group comprising six members and covering one of the three partner state. These are: Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania (mwanza).

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