The
main Organs of the EAC are the Summit, the Council of Ministers, the
Co-ordinating Committee, the Sectoral Committees, the East African Court
of Justice, the East African Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat.
The Summit
The
Summit comprising of Heads of Government of Partner States gives
strategic direction towards the realisation of the goal and objectives
of the Community.
The Council of Ministers
The
Council of Ministers (or simply, the Council) is the central
decision-making and governing Organ of the EAC. Its membership
constitutes Ministers or Cabinet Secretaries from the Partner States
whose dockets are responsible for regional co-operation.
Every
year, the Council meets twice, one meeting of which is held immediately
preceding a meeting of the Summit. The Council meetings assist in
maintaining a link between the political decisions taken at the Summits
and the day-to-day functioning of the Community. Regulations, directives
and decisions taken or given by the Council are binding to the Partner
States and to all other Organs and Institutions of the Community other
than the Summit, the Court and the Assembly.
The Council, each
year, elects a Chairperson by rotation to serve a one-year term to the
office of Chairperson of the Council of Ministers.
The Coordinating Committee
Under
the Council, the Coordinating Committee has the primary responsibility
for regional co-operation and co-ordinates the activities of the
Sectoral Committees. It also recommends to the Council about the
establishment, composition and functions of such Sectoral Committees. It
draws its membership from Permanent / Principal Secretaries responsible
for regional co-operation from the Partner States.
Subject to any
directions given by the Council, the Coordinating Committee meets twice
a year preceding the meetings of the Council. Moreover, it may hold
extraordinary meetings at the request of the Chairperson of the
Coordinating Committee.
Sectoral Committees
Sectoral
Committees conceptualise programmes and monitor their implementation.
The Council establishes such Sectoral Committees on recommendation of
the Coordinating Committee.
The Sectoral Committees meet as often as necessary for the proper discharge of their functions.
The East African Court of Justice
The
East African Court of Justice (or simply, the Court) is the principal
judicial Organ of the Community and ensures adherence to the law in the
interpretation and application of compliance with the EAC Treaty. It was
established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the
East African Community.
Arusha, Tanzania is the temporary seat of
the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court
established its Sub-registries in the Partner States, which are located
in the premises of the National Courts.
The Court is currently
composed of ten judges, appointed by the Summit from among sitting
judges of any Partner State court of judicature or from jurists of
recognised competence, and the Registrar who is appointed by the Council
of Ministers.
The Court has two divisions: an Appellate division and a First Instance division.
For more information, please visit the
EACJ website.
The East African Legislative Assembly
The
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of
the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives,
through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was
established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the
East African Community.
The Assembly has a membership comprising
of 45 elected Members (nine from each Partner State), and 7 ex-officio
Members consisting of the Minister or Cabinet Secretary responsible for
EAC Affairs from each Partner State, the Secretary-General and the
Counsel to the Community totalling 52 Members.
The Assembly draws
the authority to establish its Standing Committees from its Rules of
Procedure. It currently has 6 Standing Committees to execute its
mandate:
- the Accounts Committee;
- the Committee on Legal, Rules, and Privileges;
- the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources;
- the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution;
- the Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment, and
- the Committee on General Purpose.
The
EALA Commission which oversees the management of the Assembly is
established following the enactment of the Administration of the EALA
Act 2012.
For more information, please visit the
EALA website.
The Secretariat
The
Secretariat is the executive Organ of the Community. As the guardian of
the Treaty, it ensures that regulations and directives adopted by the
Council are properly implemented.
In service of the Community, the
Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General, 4 Deputy
Secretaries-General, the Counsel to the Community and hundreds of EAC
staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the EAC as mandated
by the Council.
The Secretary-General is the principal executive
and accounting officer of the Community, the head of the Secretariat and
the Secretary of the Summit; he/she is appointed by the Summit for a
fixed five-year, non-renewable term.
The Deputy
Secretaries-General are appointed by the Summit on recommendations of
the Council and on a rotational basis. They deputise the
Secretary-General and each serves a three-year term, renewable once.
The Counsel to the Community is the principal legal adviser to the Community.
source:
East Africa Community website
