The East African Community and Dispute Settlement (a Case of Migingo Island)

Abstract

This research studies the East African Community's dispute settlement framework. It examines the dispute between Kenya and Uganda over Migingo Island. Indeed since the end of the World War II, the human race has strived towards peaceful coexistence and established international organization such as the Unite Nations, European Union and the African Union and other sub regional organization to steer issues of development, peace and security through integration and cooperation. The end of the Cold War and the advent of globalization. The International system has increasingly been geared towards cooperation efforts and states have joined together for cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest. The republics of Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania joined together and formed the EAC, one of the successful REC's in the African region. The republics of Kenya and Uganda have been involved since 2008 in a dispute over Migingo Island located on their international border in Lake Victoria. The dispute has not augured well for the region and there is need for its settlement. The role and mandate of the East African Community in dispute settlement has been unclear leading to questions on its mandate and ability to settle disputes within the bloc. Its absence in the negotiations and its silence over the island dispute has raised questions in the region and internationally on its conflict management role. The East African Communities' ability to settle disputes would advance and enhance its integration agenda. The Migingo Island dispute therefore poses a credibility test case on the East African Community and its future role(s) in conflict management.