The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) South Sudan Chapter has applauded the suspension of the East African Community recruitment exercise endorsed by the assembly.

The EAC recruitment was suspended on Tuesday by the Council of Ministers over alleged unfair treatment of citizens from Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda to investigate allegations of irregularities and corruption claimed by selected partner states.

South Sudanese raised the concern after 14 South Sudanese applicants who had applied for the advertised positions were shortlisted.

They were said to have been shortlisted under junior positions and were to compete with applicants from other partner states which the South Sudan Chapter said was an utter denial of their affirmative action.

South Sudanese legislators complained of not being granted affirmative action like Rwanda and Burundi when they joined the community. They wanted to be given uncontested positions to fill.

According to the Chairperson of EALA South Sudan Chapter, Dr Anne Itto, the country had the least number of shortlisted applicants out of over 300 shortlisted candidates.

“Of slightly over 300 people shortlisted, Tanzania had 83, Kenya had 73, Rwanda and Uganda had 53, Burundi had 35 people shortlisted and South Sudan had only 14. So to ask this suspension of recruitment is to our advantage. And if we have good people sitting here, they are going to be checking everything and making sure that we not only are treated fairly but also our affirmative action. This is what we are fighting for,” she said.

Kenedy Mukulia said that it was worth applauding that the authors of confusion had realised that what happened was not representing the interest of the community.

“Fundamentally, they have recognised that what took place was not right, it was not in the interest of the community to collapse but it is the interest of the community to stand and recognise that the treaty has been violated, the staff rule was violated, the staff manual was violated, the codes of conduct were violated and in fact, in totality all the rules that govern the operation of this community were violated. So, they can’t act outside the law,” he said.

Kim Gai said that the struggle would not end at the halting of recruitment but would continue if the right procedures are not followed.

“And our position is, these 17 institutions which are headed by the executive director and deputy director; the affirmative action should apply on those positions, and it will make it very clear according to clause-5 that South Sudan, you have to take healthcare centre to Bujumbura, and only eligible people who are going to apply will be South Sudanese, that means we are not going to compete with other partners,” Gai said.

According to media reports, the council of Ministers have been given two weeks to deliberate on the case.

Mistreated

After the shortlisting of the applicants, the South Sudan Chapter protested and this resulted in a division among them. 

The EAC General Secretary responded to South Sudanese’s request for affirmative action, a decision disputed as politically driven.

Six of the nine members supported halting the recruitment, thus resulting in ousting of the former chairperson of the Chapter. 

The Chapter elected Anne Itto Leonardo evidenced in a communique addressed to the South Sudanese Minister of East African Community Affairs.

They however decided to form a three-member committee to be headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Andrea Malueth, Former Chapter chair Thomas Dut Gatkek and the New Chair Anne Itto Leonardo.

Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi answered positively to the call by South Sudanese to endorse halting of the recruitment exercise.

The four countries teamed up and accused Kenya and Tanzania of flocking the regional bloc. They termed the East African Community as corrupt and marginalising.

Ugandan representative Denis Narama, described recruitment as characterised by national interests. 

“The current recruitment exercise has been characterised by disproportionate profiling, shortlisting of candidates from some partner states, shortlisting of some candidates without the required qualifications and experience, the conclusion of interviews, and pushing national interest against the interest of the community,” Narama said.

Martin Ngoga, the EALA’s Speaker said they would carry out investigations on the matter and find means of settling the issue to satisfy member states.

“I can confirm to you that it has been a commitment and discussion with the council members and they are willing to deal with issues here in the best interest of the community and the satisfaction of every member of the community,” said Ngoga.

The regional bloc

The East African Community is the implementing organ of the Council of Ministers and provides recommendations to the council.

Nearly five months ago, the Secretariat advertised positions that were to be filled by partner states to cover the gap of the exiting 52 employees between July and November next year.

According to the information on the EAC official website, EAC secures the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence, professionalism, and integrity and any citizen of the partner state is eligible to apply for any vacant position.

It is deemed to observe equal representation and non-discrimination in the recruitment process through a quota system regardless of race, religion, or gender. EAC has employed about 400 employees.