Northern Corridor integration tops agenda as Kenyan president meets Kagame in Rwanda
GOOBJOOG NEWS | KIGALI: Rwandan president Paul Kagame hosted his Kenyan Counterpart William Ruto in the country’s capital Kigali Tuesday, with top of the agenda being the Northern Corridor Integration project – a key supply line in the region.
NCIP is an initiative between regional countries originally – Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya – aimed at among others easing movement along the Northern Corridor trade route which is used by countries that use the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The corridor also serves Somalia, Ethiopia, and the Northern part of Tanzania.
Under the NCIP, citizens of these countries will just need National Identification cards for their respective countries to cross to the other country – hence breaking previously existing trade and travel barriers.
The visit, according to Kenyan state house spokesman Hussein Mohammed is also expected to help enhance trade and commerce cooperation within the East African Community (EAC) and the African continent at large.
“The two leaders have re-affirmed their commitment to EAC integration and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) cooperation for trade and economic growth. Regional peace and security will also feature in the discussions that will culminate in the signing of bilateral agreements” Mr. Hussein’s statement added.
Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda had initially forged a “coalition of the willing” which put in place projects such as having a common visa for tourists visiting the countries, one-stop-border posts and set in place steps to expand the Northern corridor.
PAUSED PROJECTS
However, the implementation of further projects such as the planned railway connection among others were paused or diverted following strained relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
Relations between the two states deteriorated in 2018 when Kigali accused Kampala of harboring groups hostile to it and torturing innocent Rwandans on its soil. The heightened tensions saw Rwanda close its common border with Uganda.
However, the tension eased after the two countries agreed to review and revive bilateral cooperation in the different areas of interest by convening the next Joint Permanent Commission between Rwanda and Uganda.
REGIONAL PEACE
The two leaders also discussed regional peace, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya, a troop contributor to the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), has hosted dialogue sessions for warring factions in the DRC.
However, the tension between the DRC and Rwanda still plays a role in the peace progress in efforts to pacify the region.
Addressing journalists in Kigali, the Kenyan president commended President Kagame for his role in resolving the security crisis in eastern Congo.
“I commend President Kagame and Rwanda’s understanding of the issues in the eastern DR Congo and their contribution to EAC as we manage the situation in leadership and making sure the people of DRC who have had challenges for many years can, one more time, have peace and concentrate on building their nation,” Ruto said.
Adding, “We need the invaluable contribution and support of Rwanda in helping us sort out our neighborhood. We are working together to see that we stabilize the region so that DR Congo can have peaceful elections.”
On his part, President Kagame also commended Kenya for its efforts in resolving the Congo crisis together with other members of the regional bloc and emphasized the need for the region to work together in finding solutions to local problems without depending on the rest of the world.
“In the last few weeks, we saw some progress, much as there are still other issues to resolve. We just need to do more and register more progress towards the solution.”
Four EAC countries, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, and South Sudan have sent forces to eastern DR Congo under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to help stabilize the region.
- By Fauxile Kibet