Two years after entering the bloc, DRC sends its first minister to Eala

Two years after the Congolese nation joined the regional bloc, the first Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) minister was sworn in as an ex officio member of Parliament by the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala).

The minister of francophone affairs and regional integration, Didier Mazenga, took the oath of office on Friday at the assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, just hours after a contentious discussion over member states’ failure to remit contributions, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo leading the pack.

The EALA Speaker, Joseph Ntakirutimana, stated, “This morning I received the minister from the DRC who visited me at my office. We discussed several issues and he came with good news concerning the arrears.”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has never sent money home and has seldom attended regional gatherings since joining the East African Community in May 2022. Its debt to the EAC covers more than $14 million in two fiscal years.

Eala MPs demanded on Thursday afternoon that lawmakers from nations that had neglected to deposit money to the EAC be suspended.

DRC continues to be the largest defaulter, having not remitted any monies since joining the Community two years ago, according to the EALA committee’s report on the assessment of the EAC Budget’s execution for the financial year 2023–2024.

Burundi $11.2 million, South Sudan $8.6 million, Rwanda $920,869, Uganda $200,203, Tanzania $122,694 and Kenya $20 are the total amount owed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Kenyan MP David Sankok suggested, “Lawmakers whose countries haven’t remitted funds should attend the Eala plenary virtually to cut the cost of air ticket.”

According to Article 146 of the Treaty establishing the East African Community, should a partner state fail to observe and fulfill the fundamental principles and objectives of the Treaty, including failing to meet financial commitments to the Community within eighteen months, the EAC summit has the authority to suspend that state’s participation in Community activities.

The Community’s operations are financed by the $7.3 million that each of the EAC states must send in. About half of the EAC budget comes from these sources; the remaining portion comes from development partners.

James Kakooza, an EALA member from Uganda, stated, “We need to implement the alternative financing mechanism that will help partner states contribute in a more timely manner where partner states can give 0.2 percent of the import taxes.”

The $112.98 million EAC 2024–25 Budget, which was presented on Wednesday, is now anticipated to be approved by the regional assembly.