Joseph Isangura
Leaders from across the East African Community are expected to gather this Saturday in Arusha, northern Tanzania, for the 25th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State.
The high-level meeting will take place at the Arusha International Conference Centre, a venue that has long hosted major regional diplomatic events.
The summit comes at a significant moment for the regional bloc, which has continued expanding its membership and influence in East and Central Africa. Among the most closely watched agenda items will be the election of a new chairperson for the community, a role that rotates annually among member states.
Currently, the chairmanship is held by William Ruto, President of Kenya, who assumed the position in 2024. During the Arusha meeting, he is expected to formally hand over the role to another leader selected through consensus among the heads of state.
Eligible leaders participating in the summit include Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Félix Tshisekedi of Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia.
According to Veronica Nduva, the Secretary General of the regional bloc, the chairmanship is deliberately rotated among partner states to ensure fairness and balance in leadership. The final decision is usually reached through consensus among the heads of state during the summit itself.
Over the years, the rotating leadership has reflected the bloc’s commitment to shared governance. Since 2012, several leaders have taken turns guiding the regional agenda. President Museveni of Uganda served two terms between 2012–2013 and 2017–2019. Former Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta chaired the bloc from 2013–2015 and again between 2021–2022. Tanzania’s late president John Magufuli led the community from 2015–2017, followed by Rwanda’s Kagame between 2019 and 2021.
More recently, Burundi’s Ndayishimiye held the chair from 2022 to 2023, with South Sudan’s Kiir leading from 2023 to 2024 before the position moved to Kenya under President Ruto.
Political observers say this year’s leadership transition could again highlight Tanzania’s growing influence within the regional bloc. Analysts note that Tanzania last held the chairmanship in 2017, which could place it among the stronger contenders as the summit approaches.
At the same time, the participation of newer members such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia reflects the community’s rapid expansion in recent years. While these countries bring new opportunities for economic integration and regional cooperation, their relatively recent entry means they have had limited time to take on top leadership roles within the bloc.
Beyond the leadership transition, the summit is expected to address several strategic priorities, including regional trade integration, infrastructure development, security cooperation, and the implementation of the community’s long-term vision for a more unified East African market.
With leaders gathering in Arusha, the meeting is widely seen as another important step in strengthening regional collaboration and shaping the future direction of one of Africa’s most dynamic economic communities.
