The Challenge of Preventive Diplomacy:

1. The East African Community’s Experience in East Africa By Frank Ahimbisibwe MUST The Challenge of Preventive Diplomacy:

2. Brief Background of EAC • First East African Community_ Treaty signed in 1967 • Just 10 years the Community collapsed • Revival of the East African Community with the signing of the EAC Treaty in 1999 and entered into force on 7th July 2000. • EAC is now operational with different structures e.g. EA Parliament, EA Court of Justice, EA Secretariat all in Arusha T.Z

3. Brief Background of EAC • EAC is composed of 5 member states i.e. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The first composition included the first 3 states and later expanded to include Rwanda and Burundi. • South Sudan has applied for membership and it’s application is under review by the EAC member states.

4. The Concept of Preventive Diplomacy (PD) • The concept of PD has proven to be controversial (Lund 1996) • However there appears to be consensus that PD is preventive diplomatic and political action taken by sovereign states with the consent of the involved parties. • It helps to prevent disputes and conflicts from arising between states. PD also helps prevent such disputes and conflicts

5. The Concept of PD from escalating into armed confrontation and can therefore help to minimize their impact (7th ASEAN Regional Forum 2000) • Boutros Boutros Ghali (1992) defines PD as actions to prevent disputes from arising between parties, to prevent existing disputes from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spread of the latter when they occur.

6. Actions under PD • Actions under PD according to B.Boutros Ghali include: • Confidence building measures through diplomatic missions and summits • Signing of agreements • Free flow of information • Fact finding missions • Early warning systems/mechanisms

7. Actions under PD • Preventive deployment • Demilitarized zones

8. The Concept of PD • Boutros Boutros Ghali’s definition of Preventive Diplomacy is State-centric (track one diplomacy) and scholars have called for inclusion of track two diplomacy in PD • Preventive diplomacy should be looked at more broadly to include peace building (promotion of HR and democracy e.t.c) and peace making

9. Nature of Conflicts in East Africa • Violent and non-violent conflicts • Inter group conflicts • Inter and Intra state conflicts • Genocide and ethnic conflicts • Highly organized crimes • Border conflicts • Resource based conflicts as evidenced by pastoral conflicts and geo-political conflict

10. Nature of Conflicts in East Africa over the River Nile • Electoral violence • Terrorism • Piracy e.t.c

11. Overview of PD in EAC • EAC has not been very active in the area of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution, peace keeping and building compared to her sister organizations like ECOWAS in West Africa, SADC in the Southern region part of Africa and IGAD in the Horn and East Africa.

12. Overview of PD in EAC • However looking at the 1999 EAC Treaty and new proposals in the area of peace and security, the EAC is making proposals for an active role in peace and security matters and specifically PD. • Article 6 of the EAC Treaty clearly points out the principles of the EAC which include among others:

13. Overview of PD in EAC • mutual trust and respect of sovereign equality • Peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness • Peaceful settlement of disputes • Good governance including adherence to the principles of rule of law, democracy, social justice, human rights among others.

14. Overview of PD in EAC • These principles are very relevant to Preventive diplomacy. The EAC has to ensure and enforce member states to respect these principles as a way of preventing the occurrence of conflicts • In Article 124 of the EAC Treaty, member states agree that peace and security are vital for social and economic development in the Community.

15. Overview of PD in EAC • Partner states undertake to promote and maintain good neighborliness as a basis for promoting peace and security. • The treaty calls for establishing regional disaster management mechanisms • Exchange of criminal intelligence and security information

16. Overview of PD in EAC • establish common communication facilities for border security • enhance the exchange of visits by security authorities • exchange training programmes for security personnel • establish common mechanisms for the management of refugees.

17. Overview of PD in EAC • Article 125 of the EAC Treaty calls for cooperation on defence matters as a basis for achieving peace and security in the EAC.

18. The Role of the EAC in PD • Apart from the Treaty provisions, the EAC has moved a step towards the establishment of peace and security architecture that will make PD possible. • The following deserve mention: • a) Draft framework on good governance • b) Draft protocol on prevention and combating corruption • c) Protocol on foreign policy coordination

19. The Role of the EAC in PD • d) Draft EAC Protocol for peace and security • e) EAC are signatories to the Nairobi Protocol for the prevention, control and reduction of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes, Horn of Africa and bordering states • f) Protocol on Illicit Drug Trafficking

20. The Role of the EAC in PD • Draft Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution (CPMR) Framework • Draft Early Warning Mechanism has been adopted by Council of Ministers. This is aimed at facilitating EAC member states in anticipation, preparation and early response to prevent, contain and manage conflicts and disputes. • East African Standby Brigade/Force

21. The Role of the EAC in PD for peace keeping and preventive deployment operations. • Establishment of Nyerere Centre for Peace Research (NCPR). The overall objective is to provide EAC with relevant and timely research, training and information on peace and security, foreign policy and political affairs

22. The Role of the EAC in PD • The above interventions inform of protocols and mechanisms lay the foundation for an active EAC in the area of preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention. • Despite the above good proposals and mechanisms for a peace and security architecture, a number of obstacles still remain.

23. Challenges to the EAC PD role • Financial and logistical challenges • Disagreements on the command structure • Limited technology and facilities for early warning mechanisms • Multiple membership of states in regional organizations e.g. EAC, IGAD, SADC, COMESA, ICGLR. Multiple membership has different demands which may affect the progress of some regional orgs.

24. Challenges to the EAC PD role • Challenges of mistrust, different national interests, competition for regional power and influence • Lack of a regional hegemonic power • Principle of non-interference, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. This is a challenge in situations of humanitarian intervention, preventive deployment and peace keeping operations.

25. Challenges to the EAC PD role • Political will to embrace PD • Different political structures and institutions

26. Conclusion • Although the EAC is coming up with a number of mechanisms, strategies and protocols for a peace and security architecture, a number of challenges if not addressed will continue to hinder the Community’s contribution to peace and security in East Africa.

27. Thank You