BY MBONEKO MUNYAGA
East Africans have hailed the outcome of the 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC), which convened in Arusha on March 7, 2026, describing the decisions taken as “historic” and likely to necessitate amendments to the Treaty that revived the regional economic bloc some 26 years ago.
A communiqué issued after the meeting stated that, from December 2027, members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) shall be paid their salaries by their respective home legislatures. The decision was prompted by a serious financial crisis at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, caused by the failure of some member states to remit their annual contributions.
“The decision shall help the Community move forward, as EALA alone guzzled a third of the annual membership contributions,” said elated observers. “At least the money saved will now be used on projects meant to deepen and widen the regional integration agenda,” they added.
The Summit also appointed Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi of Tanzania as the new EAC Secretary General (SG) for a five-year, non-renewable term, replacing Ms Veronica Nduva of Kenya, who retires on April 25, 2026. A seasoned diplomat, Mbundi nevertheless faces daunting challenges in steering the Community back to its core mission as he assumes leadership of a cash-strapped Secretariat.
In addition, the Summit granted chronic debtors — DR Congo, South Sudan and Somalia — a 50 per cent waiver on their arrears, with the remaining 50 per cent to be paid within two years from March 7, 2026. However, Radio One journalist from Kampala, Ms Rose Namale, told The Arusha News by telephone that the move was unfair to member states that had consistently honoured their obligations.
Outgoing Chairperson, President William Ruto of Kenya, was nevertheless clear that the doors remained open for those wishing to withdraw from the bloc.
The Summit instructed South Sudan to finalise ratification of the Treaty, while DR Congo and Somalia were required to fast-track domestication of the Treaty “to facilitate effective implementation of programmes and activities of the Community”. Observers were quick to note that delays in Juba, Kinshasa and Mogadishu pointed strongly to a lack of political will to fully integrate into the EAC framework.
Perhaps the most far-reaching reforms centred on new EAC financing and decision-making formulae, which critics had long blamed for the inertia sometimes witnessed within the bloc. At their 23rd Summit in November 2024, EAC Heads of State had endorsed a 65 per cent direct contribution model, with the remaining 35 per cent to be assessed on import duties under the existing Customs Union framework.
However, that decision was never implemented after Burundi requested to remit its membership contributions in local currency, despite the Treaty clearly stipulating that all payments shall be made in US dollars. Similarly, all EAC decisions had previously required consensus — a system some members were accused of exploiting to stall or even scuttle Community processes and resolutions.
Under the new arrangements, decisions shall now be adopted by a two-thirds majority to enable the Community to move forward on critical matters. This reform will require amendments to the Treaty, as Article 15(4) firmly underpins the principle of consensus in the Community’s decision-making process.
Observers also noted that delegates from some newer partner states occasionally left meetings mid-session or failed to attend altogether, effectively paralysing decision-making under the consensus rule.
All in all, this Summit is likely to be remembered as the meeting that rescued a sinking ship. It also cast the Presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as committed regional leaders dedicated to a shared vision and nearly a century of intergovernmental cooperation — a heritage that many East Africans regard as part of their collective identity.
“East Africans want to see action in Arusha, not just diplomatic flamboyance,” said an Arusha resident who preferred to remain anonymous.
The Summit was attended by Presidents William Ruto of Kenya, Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and Hassan Sheikh Mohamed of Somalia. Rwanda, South Sudan and DR Congo sent representatives.
