Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On September 3 and 4, 2025, the 58th Extraordinary Sectoral Session of the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries in charge of East African Community Affairs (EAC) and the 35th Sectoral Session of the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries in charge of East African Community Affairs (EAC) and Planning were held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania. (EAC) and the 35th Sectoral Session of the Permanent Secretaries of Ministries in charge of East African Community (EAC) Affairs and Planning. Burundi was represented by Mr. Sévérin MBARUBUKEYE, Permanent Secretary in charge of East African Community Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation.
The two sessions were convened in accordance with the EAC’s calendar of activities for the period July-December 2025. Delegates from partner states and staff members of EAC organs and institutions participated.
In accordance with the rules of procedure for EAC meetings, both sessions were chaired by Dr. Caroline W. Karugu, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of East African Community, ASAL, and Regional Development of the Republic of Kenya, while Mrs. Asha Hirsi, EAC Liaison Officer of the Federal Republic of Somalia, served as rapporteur.
The agenda included a number of points for discussion, including the progress report on the implementation of previous decisions and directives of the Sectoral Council of Ministers in charge of East African Community (EAC) Affairs and Planning (SCMAECP), the status report on the monitoring of the reform of laws that do not comply with the Common Market Protocol, the draft 7th EAC Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), the draft terms of reference for the evaluation and revision of the EAC Vision 2050, the draft East African Community Digital Transformation Strategy (2025-2030), the draft terms of reference for the development of a language policy for the East African Community, the update on issues related to the removal of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) in the region, the technical experts’ report on job descriptions, the technical experts’ report on the operational manual for the implementation of quotas for the recruitment of East African Community staff and the renewal of short-term contracts for East African Community personnel.
It should be noted that these two sessions also served as preparation for the 58th Extraordinary Sectoral Session of Ministers in charge of East African Community (EAC) Affairs and the 35th Sectoral Session of Ministers in charge of East African Community (EAC) and Planning Ministers, to be held in Arusha on September 5-6, 2025.