Rwanda notification Over Burundi Cargo Blockade explained!
The Briefing Issue #65, Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Dear Readers,
Yesterday the Kigali based newspaper the New Times published an article announcing that the government of Burundi has blocked the entry of cargo trucks from different East African Community (EAC) countries transiting through Rwanda, a situation which started last week, according to reports from several border posts. Noting that the latest blockade is likely to hurt cargo owners who are already challenged by the global epidemic of coronavirus, the COVID-19.
Early today, on social media and other online platforms, web activists and propagandists inspired by the ramping conflicts between Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, were spitting fire on each other trying to support each position of interest.
From the facts we gathered here are what we know so far:
The trucks are mainly transporting Burundi-bound cargo transiting through Rwanda from the Kenyan port of Mombasa. At Nemba One-Stop Border Post in Bugesera District, three freight trucks have failed to get clearance to take their goods, while at Ruhwa border post in Rusizi, two cargo tracks have been barred entry since Friday last week.
Burundi officials have not yet communicated officially on the reasons of the blockade, media outlets expect a joint statement from the Ministry of Security and the Ministry in Charge of EAC affairs on the issue.
Till now there is no evidence that the blockade is due to COVID-19 Outbreak or other security reasons, media hope to learn more from official sources, and Cargo owners.
In the Note Verbal sent by the High Commission of Rwanda, it is unclear whether Rwanda officials have contacted their Burundi counterparts for explanations or other diplomatic means to resolve this issue.
Analysts agree that partner state in East Africa Community needs now, to set aside their differences and conflict and work together to fight the covid19 effects on their economies and the well being of their people.
The Ministers Responsible for Health and Ministers responsible for East African Community Affairs in their meeting on March 25, 2020, directed all Partner States to implement 100% exit and entry screenings by applying the multilayer mechanism to avoid some loopholes, such as transit Passengers.
They resolved to facilitate free movements of goods and services in the region and directed all Partner States to ensure that trucks/vehicles carrying goods have only 2 - 3 crew members per vehicle to facilitate smooth border crossing in the region.
Other smooth border crossing decisions taken by the EAC Health Ministers during the COVID-19 Outbreak:
If the crew are screened and found to be at high risk or positive for COVID-19, the truck will be decontaminated before it is allowed to continues to its final destination and the crew members will be quarantined for 14 days according to the set national guidelines;
In the event that the crew are quarantined while in transit, truck owners/operators make necessary arrangements to the backup crew to ensure that good is delivered to the intended destination;
Truck drivers are required to declare their final destination and are urged to stop only at designated points along the transport corridors so as to limit the chances of the spread of COVID-19 during transit.
FAO, WHO, and WTO call to minimize potential impacts on the food supply or unintended consequences on global trade and food security.
The heads of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a joint statement on 31 March calling on governments to minimize the impact of COVID-19 related border restrictions on trade in food.
Here are key paragraphs from their statement :
“When acting to protect the health and well-being of their citizens, countries should ensure that any trade-related measures do not disrupt the food supply chain. Such disruptions including hampering the movement of agricultural and food industry workers and extending border delays for food containers, resulting in the spoilage of perishables and increasing food waste. Food trade restrictions could also be linked to unjustified concerns on food safety. If such a scenario were to materialize, it would disrupt the food supply chain, with particularly pronounced consequences for the most vulnerable and food-insecure populations.
Uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market. Such reactions can alter the balance between food supply and demand, resulting in price spikes and increased price volatility. We learned from previous crises that such measures are particularly damaging for low-income, food-deficit countries and to the efforts of humanitarian organizations to procure food for those in desperate need.”
Among the major challenges facing the EAC, there is the efficiency of the customs union and a common market with a view to increasing added value and cross-border trade within the region – the current priorities in the EAC.
Trade-related objectives are often influenced by political reality and the implementation of all the obligations involved in a common market has not always been smooth enough. Various trade barriers continue to impact the customs union and the common market.
Early this year, in January, we published an Interview we had with EAC SG, here are some of the questions we asked him about moving goods and the conflicts in the region.
RegionWeek: Moving goods within the region has always had some hindrances, what are the main causes, what is being done about it?
Secretary-General: Well, there are many reasons why the movement of goods, which is in our common market pillar, has to account for a number of problems.
Years ago, we were operating under very different standards. Our laws were not in harmony. There were so many trade-related matters. The differences in standards were actually one of the problems.
We worked at harmonizing the rules and laws. We have been working on infrastructure. The community is engaged in an extensive program of building routes that ease moving goods from one country to another. [....] We have been working on customs procedures. We worked with countries to make sure that their immigration offices and customs offices are moving towards a single customs territory.
RegionWeek: How does the EAC handle internal conflicts, how Burundi-Rwanda(frosty ties between Gitega and Kigali) and Uganda-Rwanda(Gatuna border closure) conflicts are being tackled?
Secretary-General: Well, the community has many platforms to handle the conflicts and problems between member states of the EAC. The main platforms are here to solve these internal issues. They are being resolved through diplomatic means. [....] The issues between countries and EAC have really been handled at every meeting and they are getting results through diplomatic channels. We have a sober approach. I also concert with the ministers— individually and with the presidents.
[...] Therefore, some signs of progress are being made. Diplomacy and all of us are working towards the resolution of issues between Burundi and Rwanda. We had a similar approach on the issues which have been sometimes shown and portrayed in the media or the issue between Rwanda and Uganda so, it is important to know that regardless the issues we're talking about, our ministers, our senior officials, our permanent secretaries meet on a regular basis to discuss customs issues, common market.
The bottom Line
As the agency heads said, now is the time to show solidarity, act responsibly and adhere to the common goal of enhancing food security, food safety, and nutrition and improving the general welfare of people around the world.
That's all for today, stay safe!
Fabrice Iranzi
Editor, RegionWeek.com
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