Prime Minister Nsengiyumva Attends East African Community Heads of State Summit

Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva arrived in Arusha on March 6, 2026, where he is representing President Paul Kagame at the 25th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) scheduled for March 7, 2026. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Nsengiyumva was received by Dennis Londo and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Patrick Nyamvumba. The summit brings together leaders from eight EAC member states: Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Burundi. During the meeting, leaders are expected to appoint a new Director General and Secretary General of the EAC, select judges for the East African Court of Justice, and extend the mandates of deputy secretaries general. One of the key outcomes anticipated from the summit is the launch of a common customs document known as the “EAC Customs Bond.” The new document will replace separate customs documentation currently used by each country for cross-border trade. Officials say the initiative will allow traders to conduct business across EAC member states using a single document, reducing administrative barriers and facilitating coordination between customs authorities, insurers, and financial institutions. The reform is expected to lower operational costs for traders and accelerate trade and investment within the region. The summit will also launch the seventh EAC Development Plan, covering the period 2026/27 to 2030/31, which outlines the region’s strategic vision for regional integration and development aimed at boosting social progress and economic growth over the next five years. Despite an existing legal framework designed to accelerate joint projects, the EAC has acknowledged that intra-regional trade remains relatively low. Trade among member states has stagnated at around 15% over the past decade, significantly below the regional target of 30% to 50%. Currently, intra-EAC trade accounts for roughly one-eighth of total exports. Regional trade increased only slightly from 11.5% in 2016 to 12.2% in 2024, reflecting the bloc’s continued reliance on external markets.