Tense relations cause EAC heads of state meeting to be cancelled for the second time in three weeks

Uhuru’s visit to Tanzania cancelled at the last minute

Tony Mukere

December 20, 2018 12:12 PM

Second cancellation in 3 weeks

Tense relations cause EAC heads of state meeting to be cancelled for the second time in three weeks

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Tanzania for an East African Community (EAC) Heads of State meeting has been cancelled barely a week to D-day.

The meeting, which was to take place in Arusha, was cancelled for the second time in a period of three weeks with reports of tense relations between member states.

“It is now official. The summit will not take place on December 27,” said the EAC deputy secretary general Christophe Bazivamo.

Tense relations cause EAC heads of state meeting to be cancelled for the second time in three weeks Pulse Live Kenya

November 30

Bazivamo added that the ministerial segment of the summit, which was to begin today (Thursday) in Arusha has been put off indefinitely.

The initial meeting had been scheduled to take place on November 30 but was postponed at the last minute without any explanation being offered.

Media reports indicated that there were tense relations between members states that would have played out during the Heads of State meeting, and even risk crack of the economic bloc.

Tense relations cause EAC heads of state meeting to be cancelled for the second time in three weeks Pulse Live Kenya

Tense relations

Rwanda and Burundi have over the past year continued to have poor diplomatic relations over trade accusations about security breaches.

Rwanda and Uganda have suffered similar tensions while Kenya and Tanzania have had frequent diplomatic spats since President John Magufuli took office in 2015.

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