Info@diaspoint.nl

Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) have elected Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, as the new Chairperson of the EAC Summit of Heads of State during the bloc’s 25th Ordinary Summit in Arusha, Tanzania.

Museveni succeeds William Ruto, President of Kenya, who had chaired the regional bloc since November 2024. The role rotates annually among the leaders of EAC member states.

The EAC, which includes Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia, is currently facing mounting financial and security challenges. Member states reportedly owe nearly $89 million in unpaid statutory contributions, with several countries struggling to meet their obligations, affecting the bloc’s operations and salary payments.

Security concerns also remain a major issue, particularly the continuing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the EAC has sought support from the African Union to stabilize the region.

Museveni will serve a one-year term from March 2026 to March 2027, during which he is expected to guide the bloc through financial reforms and regional security efforts while advancing economic integration.

Outgoing chair Ruto said EAC leaders had adopted new measures to improve fairness in member contributions, including a revised funding framework tied to each country’s economic capacity. He also noted that intra-regional trade increased from $33 billion in 2024 to $40.3 billion in 2025, signaling continued economic cooperation among member states.