The Role of the East African Community in Promoting Peace and Security among Partner States: The Case of Rwanda and Uganda

Abstract

This study is an assessment of the role of the East African Community (EAC) in ensuring and restoring peace and security between partner states using Rwanda-Uganda standoff which recently led to border closure as a case study. The study used a qualitative approach in data collection and analysis as it was mainly a study of a social phenomenon. Both primary and secondary data were used whereby the researcher collected information using interviews and documentation. The study found out that, EAC has played a great role in restoring peace and security among member countries especially in the case of Rwanda and Uganda. However, EAC still has a long way to go to ensure faster protocol ratification, enhancement of its legitimacy and its ability to resolve conflicts among its partner states. The EAC still lacks an adequate institutional framework to effectively deal with possible interstate disputes and regional security threats. Thus, the study gives recommendations to the EAC and its partner states on how its policies and protocols should be implemented effectively which can increase the performance of the regional integration and reduce the occurrences of interstate conflicts.