- It has been yet another blow for the European Union led Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to be signed between the body and Africa. Parliamentarians of the East African Community (EAC) also want an extension of the agreements beyond the 31 December deadline.
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, have been working hard for the establishment of a strong trading bloc [EAC].
The enactment of the current negotiations will be done at the detriment of financing basic services: education, health and infrastructure improvement, parliamentarians voiced after exhausting a discussion on the impact of the EPAs on East Africa in the Ugandan city of Entebbe.
They believed that the extension will result to the addressing of all outstanding issues that surround the negotiations.
EAC MPs urged the exclusion of European Union's agricultural countries the negotiations. But the EU said the deal will not be extended beyond December.
EAC member governments have been called to enact laws empowering national parliaments to sanction such trade deals.
The EU has blamed Africa's economic tigers, South Africa and Nigeria, for trying to convince other African countries to shun from signing the agreements. Already, 15 West African countries have opposed the deal, arguing that it will have serious impact on the region's economic integration.
ActionAid International has grilled the EU for using what it called "strong-arm trade politics" to impose an unjust trading system on poor countries. ActionAid believed that the EU trade policy will deny the world's poorest countries of their food rights, production and undermine good governance.
Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, has warned African countries to be wary of the risks involved in the consequences of free trade between Europe and Africa.
Mr Wade, who uttered the comments in France, said there is need to consider the future of Euro-African relations and warned that if the failure of Europe to transform will result to China's fast conquer.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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