20100405
ALLAFRICA

Nairobi — The East African Community has not intervened in a diplomatic row between Kenya and Tanzania over ivory stockpiles, preferring to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

Dar es Salaam has accused Nairobi of undermining its bid at a recent Cites conference in Doha, Qatar, to be allowed to sell its ivory.

EAC secretary-general Juma Mwapachu said in Arusha at the weekend that the issue had not been discussed although the regional bloc was aware of the differences between the two.

"The Cites (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) issue has never been discussed within the EAC," he said.

He said although the bloc had a sectoral council dealing with wildlife and tourism, the matter had not been tabled.

Mr Mwapachu, however, said that prior to the Cites meeting, he was told by a senior Tanzanian official that the country's bid would not succeed.

"This official happened to be in Nairobi early last month and called to inquire if we were aware of the differences between Tanzania and Kenya on the ivory issue and how it could impact the region," he said.

The EAC boss said the regional bloc has adopted a wait-and-see position although it was concerned by the differences of the neighbouring states, which have a long history of cooperation on issues pertaining to wildlife.

Mr Mwapachu was speaking just a day after the Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr Mutinda Mutiso, denied snubbing Tanzania at the Cites talks.

Mr Mutiso denied that it was the Kenyan vote which derailed Tanzania's plan to sell its 90 tonnes of ivory stockpiles, valued at $20 million.

He said although Tanzania lost the application by one vote, another 39 countries abstained.

Mr Mutiso admitted that the two governments did not meet to plan a common position before the Cites conference.

"If we had met, maybe things would have been different," he said, hinting that Kenya was ready for talks "to iron out the differences and hammer out a common position".

"We need to discuss the way forward. In any case, the ivory stockpiles won't turn into elephants despite the noises being made by conservation lobbyists abroad," he said.

Kenya's failure to support Tanzania in its bid has generated debate in Arusha, the EAC headquarters and the country's tourism and wildlife conservation hub.

Stakeholders in the tourism sector said the diametrically opposed positions of the two EAC member countries could rekindle the open "war" for tourism resources that went back to the 1970s.

While Tanzania opted for a tourism model with small but high paying visitors, Kenya preferred mass tourism which critics say affects the ecology of game reserves, especially the Maasai Mara bordering Tanzania's Serengeti.