Afrika Mashariki : EALA Appoints Select Committee to look into Genocide and Genocide Idealogy

Hon Abubakr Ogle makes a point on the floor of the House

East African Legislative Assembly has passed a Resolution to form a select Committee on Genocide. The Committee shall in addition look at the security impact on the Community of genocide ideology including genocide denial.

The Resolution moved yesterday by the Hon AbuBakr Ogle and unanimously supported by Members gives the EALA Commission the go-ahead to nominate seven persons consisting of at least one Member from each Partner State. 

The Select Committee is charged with considering ways and means of combating, outlawing and preventing genocide.   It shall make proposals on how EALA and other Institutions of the EAC can provide leadership in the fight and prevention of genocide.  This should include the development of instruments and institutional capacity in the Community.

The Select Committee has three months from the time of its appointment to execute its mandate. The resolution was supported by Members who contributed including Hon Christopher Bazivamo, Hon Dora Byamukama, Hon Abubakar Zein, Hon Patricia Hajabakiga, Hon Mumbi Ngaru, Hon Hafsa Mossi and Hon Mike Sebalu.

Rule 80 of the Rules of Procedure allows the House at any time upon a motion to appoint a Select Committee to be nominated by the Commission for the consideration or investigation of such matter(s) as the House may refer to it and to report the same to the House.

In August 2013, EALA passed an initial resolution on the matter where it also urged the Summit of EAC Heads of State to institute mechanisms to stop the perpetuation of genocide ideology and denial in the region and to take appropriate action.

The Resolution according to Hon Ogle is buoyed by the fact that the Summit is entitled to review the state of peace, security and good governance in accordance with Article 11 of the EAC Treaty.

At the same time, under article 124 of the Treaty, the Partner States undertake to co-operate and to enhance handling of joint measures for maintaining and promoting peace and security. Genocide denial is often defined as an attempt to deny or minimise the scale and severity of an incidence of genocide.

The EAC region has suffered from the negative impact of genocide. Last year, the Republic of Rwanda commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi.  In 1994, the entire globe watched in trepidation as the Republic of Rwanda went up in flames.

Thousands of lives were lost, homes demolished and economies desiccated as genocidiares descended on peace-loving Rwandans with machetes, knives, axes, guns and clubs.Analysts contend that the international community came on board, albeit late, by establishing the United Nations International Court of Rwanda to try suspects accused of masterminding the genocide.

The country also sought for reparation and justice as close to two million people were arraigned and sentenced by the ‘Gacaca’ Courts, a community justice system set up between 2001 and 2012 to try those involved in the genocide against the Tutsi.