Kenyan President William Ruto has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), succeeding South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.
President Ruto will hold the position for the next year following the 24th Summit of EAC Heads of State, which took place in Arusha, Tanzania.
The summit brought together leaders from across East Africa to discuss key regional issues and strategies for the future.
It also marked the 25th anniversary of the EAC, providing an opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the past quarter-century and to chart the path forward for deeper regional integration.
During the summit, President Ruto, in his remarks, expressed strong support for accelerating the establishment of a Political Federation, the ultimate goal of EAC integration.
He highlighted that a survey conducted in 2010 revealed overwhelming support from East Africans for the political integration of the region.
"The formation of a Political Federation was agreed upon by the founding fathers of the EAC back in 1963, and we must now ensure that it becomes a reality," said President Ruto.
He also commended Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya for already initiating national consultations for drafting the constitution of the EAC Political Confederation and thanked Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania for setting dates to follow suit.
President Ruto also underscored the significant strides made in intra-regional trade, which has reached between 25-28%, the highest in Africa.
He acknowledged that Tanzania had surpassed Kenya in trade volumes within the region, showcasing the growing economic connectivity of the EAC.
In addition, President Ruto emphasized the crucial role of peace and security in fostering economic growth.
"Peace and security are the cornerstones of both local and foreign direct investment, and it is the collective responsibility of the Partner States to ensure the region remains peaceful and stable," he stated. He further outlined Kenya's efforts in facilitating dialogue among South Sudan’s political factions to promote stability and its collaborative efforts with Somalia and Uganda to address tensions and promote peace in the Horn of Africa.
On the regional diplomatic front, President Ruto expressed Kenya’s support for the Democratic Republic of Congo's desire to merge the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, and endorsed the involvement of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Luanda process.
The EAC Heads of State also discussed the need to operationalize the Customs Union and Common Market protocols to boost trade within the region. Additionally, the summit focused on environmental conservation, youth employment, and the continued integration of Somalia into the EAC, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressing his country’s desire to join the regional bloc as part of a stronger economic and political entity.
In his closing remarks, President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to a united and prosperous East Africa, encouraging all EAC members to work together towards the realization of a fully integrated and politically united region.
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