The 18th extra-ordinary Summit of the Heads of State of East African Community

The Heads of State of the East African Community met on december 22, 2021 at the 18th Extra-Ordinary Summit.

On the agenda of this summit, there was analysis of the admission of the DRC into the East African Community and examination of the proposal to modify the article 11 of the rules of procedure of the Summit of Heads of State.

Before starting the Summit, participants observed a minute of silence in honor of the late Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who passed away on March 17, 2021 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. They paid tribute to the late President for his commitment to the integration process of the East African Community (EAC), the development of infrastructure and the direction of economic growth.

During the Session, the summit received and considered the report of the council on the verification mission on the admission of the DRC to join the East African Community. After analysis, the Summit ordered the Council to begin and quickly conclude negotiations with the DRC for admission to the East African Community and to report in the next summit.

The summit also examined the proposal to modify article 11 of the rules of procedure of the Summit of Heads of State or Government. For this point, the Summit instructed the Secretariat to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Sector Council for Legal and Judicial Affairs to deliberate and advise on this proposal for consideration by the next.

Before closing the Session, participants thanked the Chairman of the Summit, President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya for convening the 18th Ordinary Extra-Summit of Heads of State of the EAC.

Let’s remind that this Summit was held virtually and saw the participation of the Heads of State of the East African Community, their Excellencies President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya; President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda; President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda; President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania; Prosper Bazombanza, Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi representing President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE of the Republic of Burundi and Hon. Deng Alor Kuol, Minister of Community Affairs of East Africa, Republic of South Sudan and Representative of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan.