The National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech (Belgut) has been briefed on the AU Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention) by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. 

In a meeting between the Committee and officials from the Ministry, the Committee was told that the Convention aims at fostering cross-border cooperation and assure peaceful border dispute resolution.

In his presentation, the Registrar of Treaties  Amb James Waweru  stated the benefits of ratifying the Convention. He said that through the Convention Kenya will be able to reach resources sharing agreements across borders.

“Many natural resources cross borders. This could lead to violence in the countries that are yet to adequately delimit and demarcate their borders. The Convention provides an inclusive approach to share natural resources management that will benefit local communities and boost the country’s progress,” Amb. Waweru told Members.

He added that the Convention will aid in the development of marginalized zones. According to Amb. Waweru border regions are typically less economically developed than the interior and through agreements, employment and development the convention enables economic growth at the border.

Asked the number of countries that had ratified the Convention across the continent, Amb. Waweru told the Committee that 18 out of 55 countries had signed the Convention but only six countries had ratified it. He further informed Members that for the Convention to come into force, 15 countries have to ratify it.

Upon ratification of the Convention, Kenya will be required to commit to cross-border cooperation in the surveying of boundaries, socioeconomic development of borderlands and to cooperate fully in the implementation of the border program.