JUBA – South Sudan Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA), Ministry of Interior and the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat are meeting in Juba from today Tuesday 26 February to harmonise refugee policies, laws, and practices among the East Africa Community member states including the Republic of South Sudan.
Over the last decade, there have been renewed efforts to harmonise refugee policies, laws, and practices in the EAC.
In March 2010, the EAC concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency.
The MOU’s primary objective is to “establish a framework for multi-sectoral cooperation between the EAC and UNHCR in agreed areas as well as facilitate cooperation between UNHCR and Governments of the EAC Partner States in the said agreed areas.”
The East African Community identified that sound refugee management as critical to the realisation of the twin objectives of the Community namely sustainable economic development and political integration.
Hon. Riaw Gatlier Gai, Deputy Minister of Interior, Hon John Dabi, Deputy Commissioner of CRA and Mr. Leonard Onyonyi, Peace and Security expert, EAC Secretariat are all in Juba.
The secretariat will then address the media about the outcomes.
