




Joint Communique: 17th Ordinary Summity of the East African Community Heads of State










“The African Union will send 100 human rights monitors and 100 military monitors to Burundi as the tiny nation faces its worst political crisis since a civil war ended a decade ago. Vincent Makori talks to Carine Kaneza a member of the Burundi Women and Girl’s Movement for Peace and Security and a transitional justice practitioner” (TV2 Africa, 2016)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u21sUOvyo2k
“Why Africa has old leaders and young people. The recent election victory of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has once again raised questions about term limits and democracy in some African countries. However, the Ugandan leader, who is entering his fifth term in office, is not the only one. The issue of presidential terms has caused public protests in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and in 2014 led to the ousting of Blaise Compaore, long-time leader of Burkina Faso. BBC Africa Business Report’s Matthew Davies looks at the contrast between Africa’s old leaders and its young population” (BBC News, 04.03.2016).

Development projects that pay greater attention to social accountability can improve citizen-state relations and trust in Uganda and other fragile countries, according to new research by International Alert.
The report, titled Making social accountability work: Promoting peaceful development in Uganda, evaluates two large-scale development projects undertaken in Uganda and has been published following the recent elections in the country that have been undermined by widespread unrest and allegations of corruption.
The report states that development projects which build in transparency and accountability components can nurture more constructive government-community relations – vital for closing historical divides between citizens and state that fuelled the civil war in Uganda, and helping people feel they can influence change.
Richard Businge, Country Manager for International Alert in Uganda, said:
“Uganda is not alone in the region in experiencing tensions around presidential elections. It is vital that we avoid post-election violence of the kind seen in Burundi at present and in Kenya in 2008, which points to the urgent need to help more people participate in decision-making and ensure the government and development agencies respond to their concerns.”
An informant of one of the report’s case studies commented that people in northern Uganda had previously felt neglected and humiliated by the government, but relationships improved “quite tremendously” after the project integrated a social accountability component. Teaching communities conflict-management skills also empowered them to resolve more local disputes among themselves.
It was also found that accountability initiatives can help make communities more cohesive. For example, forming local groups to interact with the district government and give voice to local concerns is an effective way of improving citizen-state relations, laying stronger foundations for building mutual trust and understanding.
As well as being a critical component of development projects, the report reveals that technology can also amplify citizen voices and enable better information sharing, therefore strengthening social accountability.
Jo Robinson, Programme Officer on International Institutions at International Alert, author of Making social accountability worklead author of Making social accountability work, said:
“Online spaces can sometimes represent more open forums for discussion on state behaviour than those offline, allowing people to engage frankly in democratic debate not just during election time, but whenever decisions are being made which may affect their lives”.
The report findings will be presented at the World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum in Washington DC on 1-3 March 2016 (website).
The research was based on two projects: Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries Pilot Project (LEAF I), funded by the African Development Bank; and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF II), funded by the World Bank.

Our High Level Delegation comprising His Excellencies the Presidents of Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania, South Africa, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia has concluded its visit to Burundi.
We have spent the last two days meeting with various stakeholders comprising the Burundi government, political parties and civil society soliciting their views about the political situation here in Burundi.
We are pleased with the participation and contributions of all these sectors.
The High Level Delegation of the Heads of State and Government expressed its concerns about the levels of violence, loss of life, and the general state of political instability in the country.
We are however pleased that all parties expressed strong commitment to resolving whatever political problems exist through inclusive and peaceful dialogue. We believe strongly that the solution to Burundi political problems can be attained only through inclusive and peaceful engagement.
The Government of Burundi has committed to the following:
The Government will continue the steps it has begun to open up space for free political activity by the people of Burundi and ensure the freedom of the media.
The AU will deploy one hundred human rights observers and one hundred military monitors to Burundi to monitor the situation.
His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, will convene an inclusive dialogue that will be attended by all important stakeholders as soon as possible to continue the work that he has already started of facilitating peace talks in Burundi.
We urge the international community to support the people of Burundi in their efforts to find lasting peace and development for the country.
In this regard, we urge the international community to restore the provision of assistance to Burundi as requested by the people of Burundi so that they can continue with building their country.
The Delegation will provide a full report to the African Union Chairperson, His Excellency President Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad.
We want to emphasise the importance for all the people of Burundi to participate in the inclusive dialogue that is being facilitated by President Museveni.
The visit has been fruitful and productive. We trust that it will contribute immensely to taking the peace process.
We thank His Excellency President Nkurunziza, the government and people of Burundi for their warm hospitality.
I thank you.

Another one in the line of the men congratulating President Museveni after the announcement of his victory recently; President Paul Kagame shows his respect for his old ally. As the other ones who has congratulated him is the Russian Foreign Department, Both President Kiir and V.P. Riek Machar of South Sudan, President Kenyatta of Kenya, President Sheikh Mohamoud Hassan, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Nkruanziza of Burundi, President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and now the President of Rwanda.
This here is what’s has been said and written:
“In a diplomatic note sent Sunday to Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kagame said Museveni’s victory in the February 18 presidential elections is “certainly a reflection of the trust the Ugandan people have in your ability to lead them forward in their quest for prosperity and socio-economic transformation” (…)”According to officials at Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kampala, Kagame in his message told Museveni that Rwanda wishes him “success in your term of office, and remains ready to strengthen the excellent ties existing between our two brotherly countries” (Muhame, 2016).
This here proves the diplomatic ties between Uganda and Rwanda is still there and close as the faith President Kagame has in the leadership of President Museveni. He is ready to continue the progress as it gives the loyal friendship between them. For him it doesn’t matter if the Ugandan people had another will and wished another man to run the country. Peace.

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 21 February 2016 – His Highness the Aga Khan today extolled Africa’s resilience, economic progress and new willingness to accept diversity.
“What I see emerging today is a refreshingly balanced confidence in Africa – a spirit that takes encouragement from past progress, while also seeking new answers to new challenges,” he said.
The Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims made the remarks in a keynote address to the “Africa 2016: Business for Africa, Egypt and the World” conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, hosted by Egypt’s president, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el Sisi.
The Aga Khan noted the decidedly upbeat spirit about Africa’s economic future that emanated from the speeches of African leaders taking part in the conference. “My enthusiasm today is especially strong because of the message which is at the heart of this Forum. And that message is, quite simply, that Africa’s Moment has come,” he declared.
While cautioning that Africa still faced formidable challenges, including high unemployment levels among the continent’s young people, he said that the continent had made significant progress in a number of key areas.
“The story of Africa’s progress and potential is also impressive – whether we talk about growing GDP and foreign direct investment, whether we look at economic diversification and national resiliency, whether we chart the rise of a vital middle class – and the expansion of consumer spending – now breaking through the one trillion dollar mark,” he said.
He noted that the experience of the Aga Khan Development Network, which is active in 13 African countries and works in an array of sectors ranging from health to education to culture to economic development, supports the positive picture.
He observed that fragmentation has long been one of the continent’s main weaknesses. “The problem of fragmentation has often afflicted Africa, separating tribe from tribe, country from country, the private sector from the public sector – those who hold political power from those who are in the opposition,” he explained.
And yet the Aga Khan noted that Africa has shown new willingness to embrace diversity and emphasised the importance of civil society in creating an enabling environment for progress.
“In sum I believe that social progress will require quality inputs from all three sectors – public, private and Civil Society. Sustainable progress will build on a three-legged stool,” he said, arguing that “cooperating across traditional lines of division does not mean erasing our proud, independent identities. But it does mean finding additional, enriching identities as members of larger communities – and ultimately, as people who share a common humanity. It means committing ourselves to an Ethic of Pluralism.”
Building on this idea, the Aga Khan emphasised the need for strong Civil Society institutions in Africa’s quest for development, noting that Civil Society has often been underappreciated, marginalised or even dismissed.
“I focus on Civil Society because I think its potential is often under-appreciated as we become absorbed in debates about the most effective programs of governments and others, or the most successful business strategies. But, in fact, it is often the quality of the third sector, Civil Society, that is the “difference-maker”. It not only complements the work of the private and public sectors, it can often help complete that work,” he said.
He lauded the positive role Civil Society played at key junctions in Africa’s recent history. “The influence of Civil Society has also been felt at seminal moments in the continent’s recent history, for example: in shaping the Arusha Accords which recently ended 12 years of civil war in Burundi, in the peaceful resolution of the violent clashes in Kenya following the 2007 elections, in the drafting of a new promising Tunisian Constitution, and in the courageous response to the Ebola crisis” he said.
For more information, please contact:
Kris Janowski
Head of Communications
Aga Khan Development Network
Email: kris.janowski@akdn.org
NOTES
His Highness the Aga Khan
His Highness the Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the AKDN, is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. In Islam’s ethical tradition, religious leaders not only interpret the faith but also have a responsibility to help improve the quality of life in their community and in the societies amongst which they live. For His Highness the Aga Khan, this has meant a deep engagement with development for almost 60 years through the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network.
The Aga Khan Development Network
Founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in specific regions of the developing world. The Network’s organisations have individual mandates that range from healthcare (through over 200 health facilities including 13 hospitals) and education (with over 200 schools) to architecture, rural development, the built environment and the promotion of private-sector enterprise. Together, they work towards a common goal – to build institutions and programmes that can respond to the challenges of social, economic and cultural change on an on-going basis. AKDN works in 30 countries around the world, employing approximately 80,000 people, the majority of whom are based in developing countries. The AKDN’s annual budget for non-profit development is approximately US$ 625 million. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.










