Highlights:
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan on Thursday 24th September announced the formulation of a common SIM card registration system that would be crucial in curbing cross borders mobile phone related crimes.
The statement was preceded by a joint workshop aimed at put in place a harmonized legal and regulatory framework to guide the exercise.
A joint statement by Information Communication and Technology of the countries asserted the immediate commencement of the project.
Summary:
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan on Thursday 24th September through a joint statement by the countries Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) ministers announced the implementation of a common SIM card system.
The Common SIM card system is aimed at curbing mobile phone related cross border crimes in the bloc. Kenya is already a step ahead seeing as the SIM card system is attached to the National Identity Cards making it easier to track criminals using their SIM cards. Other countries will integrate the same system as the first phase of the harmonized framework.
The agreement was reached after the ICT ministers from the four countries ended a workshop on a harmonized legal and regulatory framework to guide the legislation.
The common SIM card system is preparatory measures of future plans under the East Africa integration that will see member states enjoy collective financial inclusions under the One Network Area. The common currency and little cross border financial exclusions is likely to trigger fraud related crimes that will be easier to track with a common SIM card system.
The One Network Area agreement is aimed and interconnecting the states to have common data, mobile money transfer system, call rates and SMS for all the countries under implementation.
In a joint briefing; Kenya’s ICT Secreary Fred Matiang’I, Uganda’s John Nasasira, Rwanda’s Jean Philbert Nsengimana and South Sudan’s Rebecca Joshua Okwachi explained that the countries would interconnect the national IDs systems making it possible for either countries to not only tract SIM cards of their citizens but also of other countries in the event a crime is involved.
Countries in the East Africa region have evolved their integration process to cover all areas for the advantage of mutual benefit, growth and development of a powerful economic bloc. Cross-border crimes have been in the rise triggering the need for harmonized security measures to help track criminals across borders.
