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The Rule of Law and the Implementation of an Economic Acquis Communautaire in Sub Saharan Africa: Legal Challenges for the East African Community

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European Yearbook of International Economic Law 2012

Part of the book series: European Yearbook of International Economic Law ((EUROYEAR,volume 3))

Abstract

Regional initiatives linked to a broader inter-continental agenda have been at the forefront of recent developments in the legal systems of Sub Saharan Africa. As each underlying regional economic community (REC) advances the rule of law, and the implementation of an economic acquis communautaire, it faces similar but distinct challenges. This article examines some of the legal challenges facing one of the underlying RECs, that of the East African Community (EAC). It does this in two ways: first by assessing the character and scope of the EAC’s economic acquis communautaire; and then by using the results of that assessment to evaluate the process of legal approximation at a national level.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    EAC Secretariat Press Release, Burundi Ratifies EAC Common Market Protocol, available at: http://www.eac.int/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231:burundi-ratifies-eac-common-market-protocol&catid=48:eac-latest&Itemid=69 (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  2. 2.

    EAC Secretariat Press Release, Council Chairperson Assures Community on Ratification of Common Market Protocol, available at: http://www.eac.int/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226:ratification-of-common-market-protocol&catid=48:eac-latest&Itemid=69 (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  3. 3.

    Communiqué of the 11th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State, 20th November, 2009, EAC Secretariat, para 6.

  4. 4.

    EAC Common Market Protocol, Art. 47, para. 1. In the European Union, Member States are obliged to “align national laws, rules and procedures in order to give effect to the entire body of EAC law contained in the EAC’s acquis communautaire”. European Commission Guide to the Approximation of European Union Environmental Legislation, a revised and updated version of SEC(97) 1608 of 25th August, 1997, available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/guide/part1.htm (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  5. 5.

    Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, 30th November, 1999, entered into force on 7th July, 2000 in accordance with Art. 152, UNTS I-37437, Volume 2144, No 37437, available at: http://untreaty.un.org/unts/144078_158780/8/5/1975.pdf or http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%202144/v2144.pdf (last visited on 22nd January 2011).

  6. 6.

    The Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, Art. 2, The Treaties Establishing the European Communities and Related Acts, signed on 2nd October, 1997, entered into force on 1st May, 1999, OJ [1997] C 340/1. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Treaty of Lisbon), signed on 13th December, 2007, entered into force on 1st December, 2009, OJ [2007] C 306/1. Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Art. 20, OJ [2008] C 115/1, see http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/index.htm#founding (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  7. 7.

    The Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (Treaty of Rome), signed in Rome on 25th March, 1957, entered into force on 1st January, 1958. Art. B, fifth indent, of the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht), signed on 7th February, 1992, entered into force on 1st November, 1993; OJ [1992] C 191/1, see: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/index.htm#founding (last visited on 22nd January 2011).

  8. 8.

    EU Glossary, see http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/community_acquis_en.htm (last visited on 22nd January 2011).

  9. 9.

    Legal Questions of Enlargement, European Parliament Briefing No. 23, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/enlargement/briefings/23a2_en.htm#F11 (last visited on 22nd January, 2011). Cf. Statement by President-in-Office of the Council at the 31st March, 1998 conference on EU accession by the Czech Republic, para. 19. Identical statements were made at the openings of accession negotiations with Poland, Hungary, Estonia and Slovenia.

  10. 10.

    Legislation in force as of 1st May, 2010; Directory of Community legislation in force:Chapter 01General, financial and institutional matters (number of acts: 1111);Chapter 05Freedom of movement for workers and social policy (number of acts: 482);Chapter 06Right of establishment and freedom to provide services (number of acts: 245); andChapter 10Economic and monetary policy and free movement of capital (number of acts: 423). http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/legis/20100501/index.htm (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  11. 11.

    Commission, Enlargement Process, How does a country join the EU?, available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/enlargement_process/accession_process/how_does_a_country_join_the_eu/negotiations_croatia_turkey/index_en.htm#3 (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  12. 12.

    Hart, The Concept of Law, (2nd ed.) 1997.

  13. 13.

    Dworkin, Law's Empire, 1998.

  14. 14.

    Raz, The Concept of a Legal System: An Introduction to the Theory of a Legal System, (2nd ed.) 1980.

  15. 15.

    Art. 130(1) EAC Treaty, International Organisations and Development Partners.

  16. 16.

    Report of the Appellate Body, United States – Standards for Reformulated and WTO Conventional Gasoline (Complainant: Venezuela), WT/DS2/AB/R, 29th April, 1996, pp. 15–16.

  17. 17.

    Art. 130(2) EAC Treaty, International Organisations and Development Partners.

  18. 18.

    The Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, 3rd June, 1991, entered into force on 12th May, 1994; Art. 2, 3, 4, and 6, available at: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/treaties.htm (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  19. 19.

    Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament, adopted on 2nd March, 2001 entered into force on 14th December, 2003, (Art. 2, Established the Pan-African Parliament; Art. 3, Objectives include facilitating effective implementation of policies and objectives of the OAU/AEC and African Union and cooperation among Regional Economic Communities and their Parliamentary fora; Art. 11 Functions and Powers, para. 3, 7), available at: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/treaties.htm (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  20. 20.

    Constitutive Act of the African Union, adopted on 11th July, 2000, entered into force on 26th May, 2001; Art. 2 established the African Union; Art. 3 Objectives, available at: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/treaties.htm; or http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/AboutAU/Constitutive_Act_en.htm#Article33 (last visited on 22nd January, 2011).

  21. 21.

    Art. 33(2) Constitutive Act of the AU.

  22. 22.

    Art. 3(1) Constitutive Act of the AU.

  23. 23.

    Art. 14(1)(c), Art. 15(1)(c) Constitutive Act of the AU.

  24. 24.

    Green, The Treaty for East African Co-Operation: A Summary and Interpretation, The Journal of Modern African Studies 5 (1967) 3, pp. 414–419.

  25. 25.

    Art. 8(4) EAC Treaty, General Undertaking as to Implementation.

  26. 26.

    Art. 8(4) EAC Treaty, “Community organs, institutions and laws shall take precedence over similar national ones on matters pertaining to the implementation of this Treaty”.

  27. 27.

    A Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) came into force on 19 January 2011; and negotiations for the EAC-COMESA-SADC FTA were launched in June 2011.

  28. 28.

    Art. 1 EAC Treaty, Interpretation.

  29. 29.

    Art. 23 EAC Treaty, Role of the Court.

  30. 30.

    Art. 62 EAC Treaty, Acts of the Community.

  31. 31.

    Art. 2 EAC Common Market Protocol, Establishment of the East African Community Common Market.

  32. 32.

    Art. 39 EAC Customs Union Protocol, Customs Law of the Community.

  33. 33.

    WTO Decision, Differential and More Favourable Treatment Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries, L/4903, 28th November, 1979, available at: http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/enabling_e.pdf (last visited on 22nd January, 2011). The WTO refers to the EAC’s Customs Union having legal cover under the WTO Enabling Clause (date of signature was 30th November, 1999, date of notification 9th October, 2000, and entry into force on 7th July, 2000), http://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicAllRTAList.aspx (last visited on 22nd January, 2011). WTO notifications show that only the EAC Treaty was communicated in 2000 (WTO, East African Community Communication from the Parties, Committee on Trade and Development, WT/COMTD/25, 11th October, 2000). The Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Customs Union was communicated in 2006 (WTO, East African Community Communication from the Parties Addendum, Committee on Trade and Development, WT/COMTD/25/Add.1, 1st November, 2006).

  34. 34.

    General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, 15th April, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1A, The Legal Texts: The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations 17 (1999), 1867 U.N.T.S. 187, 33 I.L.M. 1153 (1994) [hereinafter GATT].

  35. 35.

    Report of the Appellate Body, European Communities – Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas, WT/DS27/AB/R, 25th September, 1997.

  36. 36.

    See also Report of the Appellate Body, European Communities – Conditions for the Granting of Tariff Preferences to Developing Countries, AB-2004-1, WT/DS246/AB/R, 20th April, 2004, para. 114.

  37. 37.

    WTO Decision, Differential and More Favourable Treatment Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries, L/4903, 28th November, 1979, available at: http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/enabling_e.pdf (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  38. 38.

    For the UN’s Current List of Least Developed Countries, see http://www.unohrlls.org/en/ldc/related/62 (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  39. 39.

    Bartels/Ortino (eds.), Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System, 2006.

  40. 40.

    WTO, Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.

  41. 41.

    Art. XXIV.5(a),(b) GATT.

  42. 42.

    Art. XXIV.5(c) GATT.

  43. 43.

    Art. XXIV.6 GATT.

  44. 44.

    GATT XXIV.7 and its Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXIV GATT 1994. See also WTO, Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements General Council Decision of 14 December 2006, WT/L/671, 18th December, 2006.

  45. 45.

    Art. XXIV.8 GATT.

  46. 46.

    Southern African Development Community (SADC), Free Trade Agreement, notified to the WTO under GATT Article XXIV, date of notification 2 August 2004; http://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicShowRTAIDCard.aspx?rtaid=45; last visited 24 October 2011.

  47. 47.

    WTO, RTA Database, available at: http://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicAllRTAList.aspx (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  48. 48.

    Art. XXIV.12 GATT.

  49. 49.

    The G77 established from the Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on 15th June, 1964, see: http://www.g77.org/doc/index.html (last visited on 23rd January, 2011). See also, Position paper of the Group of 77 and China on strengthening the role of the UN in global economic governance, 2nd June, 2010.

  50. 50.

    EAC Secretariat (Authors: Mugisa/Onyango/Mugoya), An Evaluation of the Implementation and Impact of the East African Community Customs Union, Final Report, March 2009, p. 1.

  51. 51.

    WTO, Ministerial Declaration, Ministerial Conference Fourth Session, 9th–14th November, 2001, WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 14th November, 2001, para. 29. WTO, Doha Work Programme, Ministerial Declaration, Ministerial Conference Sixth Session, 13th – 18th December, 2005, WT/MIN(05)/DEC, 18th December, 2005, Annex D.

  52. 52.

    EAC Secretariat (Authors: Mugisa/Onyango/Mugoya), An Evaluation of the Implementation and Impact of the East African Community Customs Union, Final Report, March 2009.

  53. 53.

    Njau, EAC Fully Fledged Customs Union: Implications for Private Sector, EABC Briefing Paper, January 2010, available at: http://www.kepsa.or.ke/pdfs/EAC_Briefing_Paper_Jan_2010.pdf (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  54. 54.

    Art. 2 EAC Common Market Protocol, Establishment of the East African Community Common Market.

  55. 55.

    Art. 29–45 EAC Common Market Protocol, Part H, Other Areas of Co-Operation in the Common Market.

  56. 56.

    Art. 6(1) EAC Common Market Protocol, the full provisions on the Free Movement of Goods are covered by Art. 6 EAC Common Market Protocol, Part C.

  57. 57.

    Art. 39 EAC Customs Union Protocol, Customs Law of the Community.

  58. 58.

    Art. 6(2) EAC Common Market Protocol.

  59. 59.

    General Agreement on Trade in Services, 15th April, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1B, The Legal Texts: The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations 284 (1999), 1869 U.N.T.S. 183; 33 I.L.M. 1167 (1994) [hereinafter GATS]; GATS, Art. V.3(b) and V.6.

  60. 60.

    Art. V.6 GATS.

  61. 61.

    WTO, Compendium of issues related to Regional Trade Agreements, Background Note by the Secretariat, Revision, Negotiating Group on Rules, TN/RL/W/8/Rev.1, 1st August, 2002.

  62. 62.

    Art. V:7 GATS, Economic Integration.

  63. 63.

    Art. I.2 GATS.

  64. 64.

    Art. 16(2) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Services.

  65. 65.

    Art. I.3 GATS; Art. 16(7)(a) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Services.

  66. 66.

    Art. 16(7)(b) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Services.

  67. 67.

    Art. 18 EAC Common Market Protocol, Most Favoured Nation Treatment.

  68. 68.

    Art. 17 EAC Common Market Protocol, National Treatment.

  69. 69.

    Art. 19 EAC Common Market Protocol, Notification.

  70. 70.

    Art. 20 EAC Common Market Protocol, Domestic Regulation.

  71. 71.

    Art. 21 EAC Common Market Protocol, General Exceptions to Trade in Services.

  72. 72.

    Art. 22 EAC Common Market Protocol, Security Exceptions on Trade in Services.

  73. 73.

    East African Community, The East African Community Common Market, Schedule Of Commitments On The Progressive Liberalisation Of Services, Annex V, EAC Secretariat, November 2009. For a WTO reference see: WTO, Trade in Services, Guidelines for the Scheduling of Specific Commitments Under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), S/L/92 (Scheduling Guidelines), adopted by the Council for Trade in Services on 23rd March, 2001.

  74. 74.

    Art. 23(2)(3) EAC Common Market Protocol, Implementation of the Free Movement of Services.

  75. 75.

    Art. 7(1), 10(1) EAC Common Market Protocol.

  76. 76.

    EAC Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations, Annex I EAC Common Market Protocol, EAC Secretariat, November 2009; EAC Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II EAC Common Market Protocol, EAC Secretariat, November 2009.

  77. 77.

    Art. 7(2) EAC Common Market Protocol.

  78. 78.

    Art. 7(4)(5)(6) EAC Common Market Protocol.

  79. 79.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations, Annex I to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 4, Scope of Application. Regulation 7, Limitations.

  80. 80.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations, Annex I to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 5, Entry, Stay and Exit, para. 2.

  81. 81.

    Art. 8 EAC Common Market Protocol, Standard Identification System.

  82. 82.

    Art. 9 EAC Common Market Protocol, Travel Documents.

  83. 83.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations, Annex I to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 5, Entry, Stay and Exit.

  84. 84.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations, Annex I to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 8, Border Management.

  85. 85.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations, Annex I to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 9, Registration.

  86. 86.

    Art. 10(5) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers; Art. 13, para 3 (a) and Art. 13, para 4 EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  87. 87.

    Art. 10 EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers; Art 13, para 3 (a) and Art 13, para 4.

  88. 88.

    Art. 10 EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers.

  89. 89.

    Art. 10(4) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers.

  90. 90.

    Art. 10(10) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers.

  91. 91.

    Art. 10(11)(12) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers.

  92. 92.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 5, Entry, Stay and Exit, para. 2.

  93. 93.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 5, Entry, Stay and Exit, para. 2(c) and 3.

  94. 94.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 5, Entry, Stay and Exit, paras. 4–6. The inclusion of worker’s dependant’s is further provided for by virtue of the EAC Common Market Protocol, Art. 13, Right of Establishment, para. 4.

  95. 95.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 5, Entry, Stay and Exit, para. 6.

  96. 96.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 6, Procedure for Acquiring Work Permit.

  97. 97.

    Art. V bis GATS, Labour Markets Integration Agreement.

  98. 98.

    Art. 11 EAC Common Market Protocol, Harmonisation and Mutual Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications.

  99. 99.

    Art. 12 EAC Common Market Protocol, Harmonisation of Labour Policies, Laws and Programmes.

  100. 100.

    The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers) Regulations, Annex II to the Common Market Protocol, Regulation 14, Monitoring of the Labour Market.

  101. 101.

    Art. 28 EAC Common Market Protocol, Capital and Related Payments and Transfers.

  102. 102.

    Art. 25 EAC Common Market Protocol, General Exceptions.

  103. 103.

    Art. 26 EAC Common Market Protocol, Safeguard Measures, and Art. 27 EAC Common Market Protocol, Conditions for Application of the Safeguard Measures.

  104. 104.

    Art. 27 EAC Common Market Protocol, Conditions for Application of the Safeguard Measures.

  105. 105.

    Art. 27(6) EAC Common Market Protocol, Conditions for Application of the Safeguard Measures.

  106. 106.

    Art. 13(1)(5) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment; and Art. 14 EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Residence.

  107. 107.

    Art. 13(3)(a),(4),(5) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  108. 108.

    Art. 14(3) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Residence.

  109. 109.

    EAC Common Market Protocol, Annex IV, EAC Common Market (Right of Residence) Regulations, Regulation 5, Basis for Residence.

  110. 110.

    Art. 14(7) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Residence.

  111. 111.

    Art. 14(4) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment; Art. 14(2) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Residence.

  112. 112.

    Art. 10(5) EAC Common Market Protocol, Free Movement of Workers; Art. 13(3)(a),(4) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  113. 113.

    Art. 13(5) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  114. 114.

    Art. 13(6) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  115. 115.

    Art. 13(7) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  116. 116.

    Art. 11 EAC Common Market Protocol, Harmonisation and Mutual Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications.

  117. 117.

    Art. 13(3)(b) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  118. 118.

    Art. 13(8)(9) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment; Art. 14(4)(5) EAC Common Market Protocol – Right of Residence.

  119. 119.

    Art. 14(1)(2) EAC Common Market Protocol, Access to and Use of Land and Premises.

  120. 120.

    Art. 13(11) EAC Common Market Protocol, Right of Establishment.

  121. 121.

    Art. 13 EAC Treaty, Membership of the Council; Art. 14(1)(2) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  122. 122.

    Art. 14 EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  123. 123.

    Art. 47(1)(2) EAC Common Market Protocol.

  124. 124.

    Art. 14(5) EAC Treaty.

  125. 125.

    EAC Press Release, Review of Laws for Common Market On, Council Chair tells EALA, Hon. Hafsa Mossi Assures House after Members Query Pace of Approximation and Harmonization of Laws and Policies to Operationalize Protocol East African Community Headquarters, 13th December, 2010, available at: http://www.eac.int/about-eac/eacnews/530.html?task=view (last visited on 17th January, 2011).

  126. 126.

    Ibid.

  127. 127.

    EAC Secretariat Press Release, Meeting on Approximation of National Laws in the EAC Context Held in Nairobi, 18th February, 2010; Council Chairperson Assures Community on Ratification of Common Market Protocol, 29th April, 2010.

  128. 128.

    Art. 76(2) EAC Treaty, Establishment of a Common Market.

  129. 129.

    Muwanga, “East Africa: EAC Competition Law Imposes $100,000 Fine”, East African Business Week, 21st December, 2009, see http://allafrica.com/stories/200912211204.html (last visited 23rd January, 2011).

  130. 130.

    Art. 14(3)(c) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  131. 131.

    Art. 16 EAC Treaty, Effects of Regulations, Directives, Decisions and Recommendations of the Council.

  132. 132.

    Art. 14(4) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  133. 133.

    Advisory Opinion of the East African Court of Justice, EACJ, In The Matter Of A Request By The Council Of Ministers Of The East African Community For An Advisory Opinion; Application No. 1 of 2008, East African Court of Justice at Arusha, First Instance Division, para. 2.7.2; Art. 1, Art. 7(1)(e) EAC Treaty.

  134. 134.

    Art. 12(3), 15(4) EAC Treaty.

  135. 135.

    Art. 15(4)(5) EAC Treaty, Meetings of the Council.

  136. 136.

    Art. 14(3)(i) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  137. 137.

    Art. 14(3)(j) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  138. 138.

    Note, however, that the Art. 17 EAC Treaty, Composition of the Co-ordination Committee, and Art. 18 Functions of the Co-ordination Committee, provides for the responsible Permanent Secretaries of Partner States sitting as the EAC Co-ordination Committee to co-ordinate committee activities (not those of sub-committees) and receive and consider their reports.

  139. 139.

    Art. 71 EAC Treaty, Functions of the Secretariat.

  140. 140.

    Burundi, Ministère des Affaires de la Communauté Est Africaine, see http://www.eac.bi (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  141. 141.

    EAC Press Release, Burundi Ratifies EAC Common Market Protocol, EAC Secretariat, 30th April, 2010; see:

    http://www.eac.int/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231:burundi-ratifies-eac-common-market-protocol&catid=48:eac-latest&Itemid=69 (last visited 23rd January, 2011); see also: Study of the impact of Burundi’s membership of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market and preparation of a negotiating strategy, Final report, Prepared for the East African Community and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH Eschborn, Germany at the request of the EAC-GTZ programme “Strengthening the Integration Process in the EAC Region”, May 2008.

  142. 142.

    Kenya, Ministry of East African Community, see http://www.meac.go.ke (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  143. 143.

    Kenya, Ministry of East African Community, Annual Work Plan 2009/10; http://www.meac.go.ke/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=1&Itemid=2 (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  144. 144.

    Rwanda Ministry of East African Community (MINEAC), see http://www.mineac.gov.rw (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  145. 145.

    The Ministry of East African Cooperation was established Vide Government Notice No. 1 of January, 2006, see http://www.meac.go.tz (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  146. 146.

    Uganda’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs, see http://www.meaca.go.ug (last visited on 23rd January, 2011); for an Overview of the Ministry of East Africa Community Affairs (MEACA), presented by the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Edith N. Mwanje at Kampala International University on 8th May, 2010, see http://www.mak.ac.ug/documents/eac/MEACAOverview.ppt (last visited on 23rd January 2011).

  147. 147.

    Communiqué of the 12th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State Theme: “EAC: A Second Decade Of Higher Achievements”, 3rd December, 2010, EAC Secretariat, para. 12.

  148. 148.

    Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969, done at Vienna on 23rd May, 1969, entered into force on 27th January, 1980, Art. 26, United Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. 1155, p. 331.

  149. 149.

    Art. XXIV(12) GATT.

  150. 150.

    Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969, done at Vienna on 23rd May, 1969, entered into force on 27th January, 1980, Art. 27, Internal Law and Observance of Treaties, United Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. 1155, p. 331.

  151. 151.

    Art. 11(8) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Summit; Art. 14(5) EAC Treaty, Functions of the Council.

  152. 152.

    Art. 62(1) EAC Treaty, Acts of the Community.

  153. 153.

    Constitution of the Republique du Burundi, 18th March, 2005, Art. 95, 290; Loi No 1/010 du 18 mars 2005 portant promulgation de la Constitution de la Republique du Burundi, http://www.accpuf.org/images/pdf/cm/burundi/constitution-du-burundi-180305.pdf. Constitution de Burundi, 1st June, 1998, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/452d025f4.html. The Acte Constitutionnel de Transition replaced the Constitution of Burundi dated 9th March, 1992. For La Cour constitutionnelle du Burundi see: http://www.accpuf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=76 (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

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    Loi n° 1/08 du 30 Juin 2007 portant ratification par la République du Burundi du Traité d’adhésion du Burundi à la Communauté Est Africaine, signé à Kampala, le 18th June 2007.

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    Loi n° 1/05 du février 2008 portant ratification par la République du Burundi des amendements du Traité portant Création de la Communauté Est Africaine tels que signés par les Chefs d’Etat des pays membres de la Communauté Est-Africaine le 20th August 2007 à Arusha en République Unie de Tanzanie.

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    Loi N°1/10 du 30 avril 2010 Portant Ratification par la République du Burundi du Protocole Portant création du Marché Commun de la Communauté Est Africaine et ses six Annexes déjà négociés, signé à Arusha, République Unie de Tanzanie, le 20 November 2009.

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    EAC Judgment No. 1 of 2006, Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o and Others vs. Attorney General of Kenya and Others [Nyong'o II], 30th March, 2007, http://www.eacj.org/docs/judgements/EACJ_Reference_No_1_2006.pdf (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

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    Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o & 10 Others vs. Attorney General & Another [2007] eKLR; Case number Petition 49 of 2007; delivered 19th March 2007, see www.kenyalaw.org (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  164. 164.

    EAC Secretariat Press Release, Meeting on Approximation of National Laws in the EAC Context Held in Nairobi, 18th February, 2010.

  165. 165.

    Gazette Notice No. 2915, Ministry of East African Community, Appointment, dated 19th March, 2010, A. J. Kingi, Minister for East African Community, http://www.kenyalaw.org/KenyaGazette/view_gazette.php?title=3256 (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

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    Title X. International Treaties and Agreements, Art. 189, amended by the Amendment of 2nd December, 2003 (O.G n° special of 2nd December, 2003, p. 11), amended by the Amendment of 8th December, 2005 (O.G n° special of 8th December 2005), amended by the Amendment of 13th August, 2008 (O.G n° special of 13th August, 2008); N.B. Amended articles have been incorporated in the text of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda on 4th June, 2003.

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    The French Constitution of 1958, Art. 55, adopted on 4th October, 1958, Journal Officiel de la République Française, http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jopdf/common/jo_pdf.jsp?numJO=0&dateJO=19581005&pageDebut=09151 (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

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    Arrête Présidentiel N° 24/01 Du 28/06/2007 Portant Ratification du Traité d’Adhésion de la République du Rwanda à la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est, Signé à Kampala en date du 18 Juin 2007; J.O. N° Spécial du 28 Juin 2007; Date de Promulgation: 2007-06-28; Date de Publication: 2007-06-28; Status : en vigueur. Loi n° 29/2007 du 27/06/2007 Autorisant la Ratification du Traité d’Adhésion de la République du Rwanda à la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est, signé à Kampala, en Ouganda, en date du 18 juin 2007, J.O. N° spécial du 28 juin 2007; date de promulgation: 2007-06-27; date de publication: 2007-06-28; Status : en vigueur.

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    Arrêté présidentiel n° 55/01 du 31/12/2007 Portant Ratification de l’Amendement au Traité relatif à la Création de la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est, signé à Arusha en date du 20 août 2007; J.O. N°8 du 15/04/2008 n.b. Les amendements sont inclus dans le texte constitutif de l’EAC. Date de promulgation: 2007-12-31; date de publication: 2008-04-15; Status : en vigueur.

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    Law No. 72/2008 of 31st December, 2008 determining the entry into force of the East African Community Customs Management Act of 1st January, 2005, amendments to EAC CET 2007 Version; Law No. 75/2008 of 31st December, 2008, modifying and complementing law No. 26/2006 of 27th May, 2006, determining and establishing consumption tax on some imported and locally manufactured products; Law No. 71/2008 of 31st December, 2008 repealing law No. 41/2002 of 31st December, 2002, establishing special tax on imported sugar.

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    Report by the Secretariat, Trade Policy Review East African Community, Annex 2 Tanzania, WT/TPR/S/171, 20th September, 2006, p. A2-143.

  172. 172.

    The 1977 Constitution amended by 14 amendments provides for a distinction between union and non-union matters. Trade related Union matters are provided for by Art. 4(3) of the Union Constitution; Art. 64; Art. 98; First Schedule to the Constitution; Second Schedule; Union matters by practice; and Union matters by judicial interpretation. Fiscal, Monetary Policy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, External Borrowing, Civil Aviation in relation to tourism and air transport, Exclusive Economic Zones and Petroleum and Natural Gas are typically union matters. Non-union trade related matters, those within Zanzibar’s jurisdiction include inland revenue (e.g., VAT and hotel levies, but not income tax, corporation tax or customs duty), Intellectual Property, Investment, Tourism Services, Agriculture, Environment and Conservation, Fisheries regulation, Land, Education, Labour, Commercial Law and certain aspects of Dispute Resolution.

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  174. 174.

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  175. 175.

    Sec. 9 East African Community Act 2002.

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  177. 177.

    Art. 54 EAC Common Market Protocol, provides for the settlement of disputes pertaining to the Common Market.

  178. 178.

    Art. 23 EAC Treaty, Role of the Court.

  179. 179.

    Art. 24 EAC Customs Union Protocol, East African Community Committee on Trade Remedies. See Annex IX to the EAC Customs Union Protocol, East African Community Customs Union (Dispute Settlement Mechanism) Regulations.

  180. 180.

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    Art. 24(5)(6) EAC Customs Union Protocol, East African Community Committee on Trade Remedies.

  183. 183.

    Sec. 3 and 4 EAC Customs Management Act 2004 (revised edition 2009), Part II.

  184. 184.

    Sec. 219(1) EAC Customs Management Act 2004 (revised edition 2009), Part XVII, Settlement of Cases by the Commissioner.

  185. 185.

    Sec. 220(1) EAC Customs Management Act 2004 (revised edition 2009), Part XIX, Legal Proceedings.

  186. 186.

    Sec. 229, 230, 231, 252 EAC Customs Management Act 2004 (revised edition 2009), Part XX Appeals.

  187. 187.

    EAC Customs Management (Working Arrangements Between the Directorate and the Customs) Regulations, 2009; in exercise of the powers conferred by Sec. 4(3) and 251(1) of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, the Council of Ministers made these Regulations 27th February, 2009. As at 24th May, 2010, the official regulations did not include Part III, Enforcement of Customs Law and Trade Facilitation.

  188. 188.

    Art. 29 EAC Treaty.

  189. 189.

    Art. 54(2) EAC Treaty, Settlement of Disputes.

  190. 190.

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    Art. 32 EAC Treaty, Arbitration Clauses and Special Agreements.

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    Art. 7 African [Banjul] Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted 27th June, 1981, OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58 (1982), entered into force on 21st October, 1986.

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  199. 199.

    EAC Ruling, No. 1 of 2006, Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o and Others vs. Attorney General of Kenya and Others [Nyong'o I]; 27th November, 2006, see http://www.eacj.org/docs/rulings/EACJ_rulling_on_injunction_ref_No1_2006.pdf (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  200. 200.

    EAC Judgment, No. 1 of 2006, Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o and Others vs. Attorney General of Kenya and Others [Nyong'o II], 30th March, 2007, see http://www.eacj.org/docs/judgements/EACJ_Reference_No_1_2006.pdf (last visited on 23rd January, 2011); EAC Judgment, No. 3 of 2007, East African Law Society and Others vs. Attorney General of Kenya and Others [Nyong'o III]; 8th September, 2008, http://www.eacj.org/docs/judgements/E_A__Law_Society__4_Others_vs__A_G__Kenya__3_Others_.pdf (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  201. 201.

    See Sec. 104 Constitution of Kenya, (Revised ed.) 2008, Remuneration of certain officers, Laws of Kenya, http://www.kenyalaw.org/update/index.php (last visited on 23rd January, 2011).

  202. 202.

    Art. 30(2) EAC Treaty.

  203. 203.

    Art. 30(3) EAC Treaty.

  204. 204.

    Ibid., Nyong'o III.

  205. 205.

    Art. 16 EAC Treaty, Effects of Regulations, Directives, Decisions and Recommendations of the Council.

  206. 206.

    Art. 28 EAC Treaty, Reference by Partner States.

  207. 207.

    Art. 1 EAC Treaty, Interpretation; Art. 38(3) EAC Treaty, Acceptance of Judgments of the Court.

  208. 208.

    Art. 23 EAC Treaty, Role of the Court.

  209. 209.

    Art. 27 EAC Treaty, Jurisdiction of the Court.

  210. 210.

    Art. 28 EAC Treaty, Reference by Partner States; Art. 29 EAC Treaty, Reference by the Secretary General; Art. 30 EAC Treaty, Reference by Legal and Natural Persons; Art. 9(2) EAC Treaty, Establishment of the Organs and Institutions of the Community.

  211. 211.

    Art. 28 EAC Treaty, Reference by Partner States; Art. 29 EAC Treaty, Reference by the Secretary General; Art. 30 EAC Treaty, Reference by Legal and Natural Persons; Art. 9(2) EAC Treaty, Establishment of the Organs and Institutions of the Community.

Acknowledgments

This paper is the final version of a paper prepared for the 2010 Society of International Economic Law Conference in Barcelona. I am grateful for inputs received, questionnaires completed and interviews conducted with the EAC Secretariat, Partner States and other stakeholders.

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    Teresa Thorp

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Thorp, T. (2012). The Rule of Law and the Implementation of an Economic Acquis Communautaire in Sub Saharan Africa: Legal Challenges for the East African Community. In: Herrmann, C., Terhechte, J. (eds) European Yearbook of International Economic Law 2012. European Yearbook of International Economic Law, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23309-8_16

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