Assessing East Africa Community Initiatives in Managing Emerging Cross Border Criminal Trends

Abstract

This thesis attempts to present an authentic picture of initiatives used in managing emerging criminal trends in cross border region of the East Africa by identifying the constituent features and major trends. Terrorism, kidnappings and cybercrime are some of the new forms of insecurity threatening the five East African Community member States and the proposed Regional Integration. The instability at the EAC borders breeds negative spill effects on East African people and economic integration as they face a new set of menaces including money laundering, human trafficking, illicit drugs as well as firearms trafficking. The region therefore needs a solid and practical peace and security strategy to counter the various emerging security challenges.While examining the role of governments and EAC stakeholders in curbing cross border criminal trends, the fight against trans-border crime has always been the responsibility of governments, but the vast number of security issues and the never-ending appearance of new stakeholders pose the critical problem to parliament roles. The weak states characterized by a lack of resources, low level of economic opportunity and the lack of political will to address crimes makes East Africa region a breeding ground for corruption. For the political integration envisioned in the EAC Treaty to happen, partner states must cede power and put their national interests aside and allow the political federations agenda to take precedence. Giving up sovereignty in the EAC has been far from reality because most of the partners States fear to adopt a common foreign policy rather than foreign policy coordination, among other issues.