EAC Heads of State to Hold 25th Ordinary Summit in Arusha

By KPC Reporter

Heads of State from the eight East African Community partner states will meet in Arusha on March 7 for the 25th Ordinary Summit, the bloc’s top decision-making forum.

The Summit, to be held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, will take place under the theme “Deepening Integration for Improved Livelihoods of EAC Citizens” and is expected to focus on accelerating regional integration and improving the welfare of East Africans.

According to the East African Community Secretariat, leaders will review progress in the implementation of regional programmes, consider institutional reports, and deliberate on strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation among Partner States.

One of the key highlights of the Summit will be the launch of the EAC Customs Bond, a single regional customs guarantee designed to replace the requirement for multiple national bonds along transit routes.

Under the new framework, traders will secure one bond recognized across all Partner States, a move expected to reduce compliance costs, cut border delays, and enhance the movement of goods across the region.

The Heads of State are also set to officially launch the 7th EAC Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), which outlines the bloc’s development priorities over the next five years. The strategy aligns with EAC Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking ahead of the Summit, EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva described the meeting as critical to the region’s integration agenda.

“The Summit of the EAC Heads of State remains the most important platform for guiding the Community’s integration agenda,” she said.

“Convening in Arusha provides an opportunity for our leaders to take strategic decisions that strengthen cooperation, promote trade, and advance shared prosperity for the people of East Africa”

Nduva added that the launch of the Customs Bond and the new Development Strategy signals a shift toward practical solutions that enhance regional competitiveness.

“These milestones reflect our collective resolve to remove barriers to trade and to implement a forward-looking development framework that responds to emerging regional and global priorities,” she said.

Other items on the agenda include consideration of the Council’s report to the Summit, discussions on sustainable financing of the EAC budget, the status of integration of newer Partner States, and key appointments within EAC organs, including judges to the East African Court of Justice.