South Sudan, under the leadership of President Salva Kiir, has taken over as East African Community (EAC) chairperson, succeeding Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye.

The decision was made on November 24, 2023, during the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State that took place in Arusha, Tanzania. The summit ran under the theme, “Accelerating Economic Recovery through Climate Action and Enhancing Food Security for Improved Livelihoods.”

“The Republic of South Sudan has assumed chairmanship of the East African Community. H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, is the new Chairperson of the East African Community,” the EAC said in a statement.

According to the statement, President Kiir will serve as the primary spokesperson for the EAC, scheduling, noticing, and calling public meetings, hearings, and other events.

President Kiir vowed to foster regional integration for greater prosperity and strategic security in the region.

During the summit, Somalia, which has been seeking to join the regional trade bloc since 2012, joined the East African Community as the eighth member of the bloc. Somalia joined Burundi, the Democratic Republic of  Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda in the regional bloc.

The summit was attended by H.E. Samia Suluhu, the President of Tanzania; H.E. William Ruto, the President of Kenya; Dr. Edouard Ngirente, the Prime Minister of Rwanda; Jean-Pierre Bemba, the Vice Prime Minister of DRC and Minister in Charge of Defence; and Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, EAC Secretary General, among others.