East African leaders agreed to form a political federation

On the 25^th Anniversary of the East African Community (EAC), Heads of State of the member states on Saturday agreed to establish the long-awaited political federation in Arusha, Tanzania.

In its press release, EAC announced that the block’s leaders have also agreed to fully operationalize the Customs Union and Common Market protocols to enhance inter-regional trade, which is currently at a minimal level.

Speaking at the High-Level Side Event of the 24^th Ordinary Summit of the block, Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, said that the formation of the EAC would have prevented Idi Amin’s ascendancy to power in Uganda, solved the problems in Burundi and Rwanda, and minimized the internal conflicts in Somalia and South Sudan.

Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, as the incoming chairperson of the block, promised to work diligently to advance its vision and achieve a shared aspiration of deepening regional integration.

“The EAC vision is to be a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable, and politically united region. This noble ambition unites our efforts and inspires our citizens,” Ruto stressed.

President Ruto has also revealed that Kenya had provided a forum for South Sudan’s political actors to talk to one another to stabilize the country as well as is working with Somalia and Uganda to reduce tensions in the Horn of Africa region.

On her part, Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania expressed her country’s commitment to promoting environmental conservation, combating climate change by expending 4-5 the GDP of the country, and engaging in a transition to clean energy and an aggressive afforestation program.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, as a new member of the block, said that his country’s entry into the EAC was the culmination of a long desire to join her neighbors in East Africa as part of the robust economic and political entity.

The Federal Republic of Somalia joined EAC on 4^th March 2024 following her admission received by the Heads of State of the Block on 24^th November 2023.

EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising eight states namely, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.