EAC Archives - Jean-Jacques Cornish

Cape to Cairo trade past signed

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 22:00:00 +0000

African leaders from three trade blocs have signed a Cape To Cairo free trade deal involving 26 countries and more than 600 million people.
The five years of negotiations began in Sandton where on Sunday African presidents will launch an effort to get common market for the whole continent.
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Trade Minister Rob Davies represented President Jacob Zuma at today’s signing in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh.
It involved the heads of state from COMESA, the East African Community and SADC.
They have inked an accord that will enormously impact African economies that still only account for about two percent of global trade – despite the continents containing some of the fastest growing countries on the planet.
Ratification of the agreement by parliaments of the signatories will take at least two years.

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Pierre Nkurunziza not allowed to return home

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has tried and failed to go home after an army general announced his ouster.

He’s returned to Tanzania where he was attending a summit about the crisis caused by his determination to win an unconstitutional third term at the helm.

Even though the borders seems to be closed against him, President Pierre Nkurunziza’s military commander insist they retain control of the presidency.

Maj General Godefroid Niyombere says he has sacked the president because of his unacceptable bid to cling to power with elections next month.

General Prime Niyongabo counters that the attempted coup has been stopped.

East African leaders have condemned the action and called for the earliest restoration of democracy in the tiny, overcrowded Great Lakes country that seen more than 20 people killed in two weeks of protests.

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Rival bands of soldiers fighting in Bujumbura streets

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Rival bands of soldiers are fighting in the streets of Bujumbura after President Pierre Nkurunziza was prevented from returning home from a regional summit called to discuss the crisis triggered by his bid to get an unconstitutional third term in office.
The East African Community has condemned what it’s calling a coup and says it won’t stand by if violence does not stop or escalates in Burundi.

President Pierre Nkurunziza is back in Dar es Salaam where he attended a regional summit that determined Burundi is not in any state to hold planned elections next month.
Former intelligence head Major General Godefroid Niyombere, sacked by Nkurunziza earlier this year, says he’s taken control Burundi and suspended parliament because of Nkurunziza’s unacceptable bid to cling to power.
The armed forces head General Prime Niyongabo, however insists the coup has failed and Nkurunziza continues to hold power.
In the streets outside their forces are fighting to settle this dispute.

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Burundi presidential spokesman insists Nkurunziza’s still in charge

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 12 May 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Hours after a major general announced the ouster of the Burundi President, Pierre Nkurunziza’s spokesman insists the executive is still in full control of the country.

Outside military tanks and armoured vehicles are on the streets with thousands celebrating that they say is the fall of the government.

Burundian presidential spokesman Willy Nyamitwe says President Pierre Nkurunziza is in fall control of the country even though he’s abroad attending a regional summit in Tanzania.

Nyamitwe says he’s aware of the announcement by Major General Godefroid Niyombare that the president’s been sacked for violating the consitutution by seeking a third term in power.

The spokesman says authorities are looking for the general.

In Dar es Salaam, leaders at the summit are resigned to achieving a result far less than what they were looking for.

The best they can hope for is the earliest return to democracy in Burundi.

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East African leaders condemn coup in Burundi

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 12 May 2015 22:00:00 +0000

East African Community leaders have slammed what they call a coup in Burundi.

The heads of state gathered in Tanzania to discuss the crisis in Burundi are calling for the earliest restoration of democracy in the tiny Great Lakes country.

Confusion reigns in Bujumbura where an army general Godefroid Niyombare says he’s sacked President Pierre Nkurunziza, but the president’s spokesman Willy Nyamitwe insists the coup has failed.

East African leaders are in no doubt there’s been a coup.

They’d planned to discuss Nkurunziza’s determination to seek an unconstitutional third term as president.

Now they’re having to respond to Burundi’s military saying it’s been forced to take control because of Nkurunziza’s unacceptable behaviour.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is at the EAC summit along with senior envoys from the European Union, United States and United Nations.

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