Faith Nyasuguta
South Sudan President Salva Kiir has officially assumed the role of Chair of the East African Community (EAC), succeeding Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The EAC chairmanship rotates among member states, with each holding the position for a one-year term.
In his address at the 23rd Summit of EAC Heads of State in Arusha, Tanzania, President Kiir emphasized the importance of collaboration among regional leaders to address shared challenges.
Leading the body for one year, Kiir expressed confidence in the EAC’s ability to tackle issues, reaffirming South Sudan’s commitment since joining in 2016.
Beny Gideon, the undersecretary in South Sudan’s Ministry of East Africa Community Affairs, noted that Kiir’s leadership of the regional bloc would offer leverage to address concerns within both the EAC and the African Union.
Lawmaker Kim Gai, representing South Sudan in the East African Legislative Assembly, highlighted the positive impact of Kiir’s assumption of the EAC chair role on the nation’s image.
Kiir takes on this leadership role amid regional challenges, including conflicts in Sudan and the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
South Sudan has deployed troops as part of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to contribute to restoring peace in the region. President Kiir urged member states to support the EAC-led Nairobi process, focusing on peace restoration in the eastern DRC.
He emphasized the potential of inter-Congolese dialogue as a pathway to peace.
Addressing financial commitments, President Kiir assured the EAC of South Sudan’s timely remittance of annual contributions, addressing past challenges.
“I sincerely appreciate the EAC heads of state for waving the arrears accrued to South Sudan,” President Kiir said. “From now onwards, South Sudan commits to remit its required annual contribution on timely basis.”
Kiir noted that they had lagged behind in contributing to the EAC kitty – which aids in the day-to-day running of the bloc – because of their internal “challenges of peace implementation”, which also impeded their full integration into the community since accession in 2016.
“As a partner state, South Sudan is fully aware of its treaty obligations, particularly on harmonization of laws and policies. We are equally aware of our required obligations for the functioning of the community,” Kiir said.
Before taking over the leadership, South Sudan had the most pending dues to the EAC and had been viewed to lack interest in matters of the bloc as it is also yet to harmonise its customs policies and laws.
Additionally, the EAC welcomed Somalia as its eighth member. The two-day summit covered critical regional issues, including climate change, food security, waste management, and pollution.
President Kiir’s tenure as the Chair of the EAC provides an opportunity to navigate several challenges, fostering collaboration and addressing shared concerns within the East African region.
The EAC, composed of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Somalia and Tanzania, aims to promote regional integration, and its headquarters are situated in Arusha, Tanzania.
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