The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat announced on April 3 that it is set to conduct a high-level sensitisation mission aimed at reviewing the performance of various One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs). The exercise will be carried out at selected borders within the bloc, it indicated. OSBP is a border facility that combines two stops for national border control processing into one and consolidates border control functions in a shared space for people exiting one country and entering another. Under this concept, multiple border agencies cooperate and collaborate with each other, and effectively coordinate their activities to maximise their operational efficiency, according to information from EAC. The sensitisation mission is scheduled to commence on April 9 and shows the EAC's commitment to fostering cooperation, enhancing trade facilitation, and improving cross-border procedures, the secretariat said in a statement. The primary objective of the mission is to follow up on the performance of OSBPs, identify areas for improvement, and assess the implementation of agreed action plans, it added. ALSO READ: How One Stop Border posts have helped reduce truck transit time Through engagement with various stakeholders including officers in charge of the OSBPs; customs, immigration, standards, and port health officers; as well as representatives of other border agencies, cross-border traders, and local government authorities, the secretariat said it aims to address challenges and streamline processes at these critical facilities. Selected borders and mission dates are Nimule/Elegu, South Sudan side, on April 9; Mutukula/Mutukula, Uganda side, on April 12; Rusumo/Rusumo, Rwanda side, on April 15; Kobero/Kabanga, Burundi side, on April 16; and Namanga/Namanga, Tanzania on April 19. ALSO READ: EA Business Council pushes for raising cap on duty-free goods The mission, the secretariat pointed out, will take place at the respective OSBPs ensuring comprehensive coverage and engagement, and underscores the significance of continuous sensitisation and capacity-building efforts at EAC borders. Similar missions are planned for other OSBPs in June and July 2024, reaffirming the commitment to enhancing awareness and compliance with cross-border procedures, it observed.
