By Watchdog reporter
The Dar es Salam East African Community summit is a flop as all stakeholders but Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania’s Pombe Magufuli attended the meeting by default.
Out of six heads of state that make the EAC summit, only two turned, with four preferring to ignore the hand over from Magufuli to Museveni.
Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza, South Sudan’s Salva Kirr only managed to send representatives that cannot actually engage Museveni or Magufuli on key issues including the upcoming monetary union.
Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta was represented by his deputy, William Ruto, who at least was substantive.
Analysts say Uhuru is fighting for his political life with the elections coming up in August, and Nkurunziza vowed not to return to Dar es Salaam, the capital he was in when a coup attempt on his government took place. Burundi has never been the same.
On the other hand, Salva fears to step out of Juba, fearing the state of affairs could go wrong in his absence.
It leaves Kagame who seriously has no serious issue back home to keep him away from a serious summit unless Kigali wants to say they have lost interest in the East African dream.
Magufuli has handed over to Museveni the chairmanship to drive the community, and it’s up to the Ugandan leader to bring back the men back to table.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
