South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, is traveling to Tanzania on Friday to represent President Salva Kiir at the 25th Ordinary Summit of East African Community (EAC) Heads of State, scheduled for March 7 at the Arusha International Conference Centre in Arusha.
The summit, held under the theme “Deepening Integration for Improved Livelihoods of EAC Citizens,” will review progress on regional programs, institutional reforms, and initiatives to advance economic integration.
Leaders are expected to launch the EAC Customs Bond, a unified regional customs guarantee designed to reduce border delays, lower compliance costs, and streamline the movement of goods across member states.
A key focus of the summit will be the selection of the EAC Secretary General, a post South Sudan is set to assume. However, there is growing unease among member states over South Sudan’s eligibility, as the country has not fully paid its financial contributions to the bloc. Summit leaders will also appoint judges to the East African Court of Justice and commissioners to the EAC Competition Authority.
The summit will officially launch the EAC’s 7th Development Strategy (2026–2031), aligned with EAC Vision 2050, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy outlines priorities for accelerating regional integration and socioeconomic transformation over the next five years.
Arek Aldo Ajou, press secretary in the Office of the President, told reporters in Juba that South Sudan, one of the members of the bloc, will participate in discussions on regional cooperation, trade, infrastructure, and economic integration.
She said Foreign Minister Semaya will be joined by South Sudan’s Minister for EAC Affairs, Pieng Deng Kuol, in representing the country at the summit.
Earlier this week, Arek said, President Kiir held a series of high-level consultations in Juba, including security briefings and meetings with senior officials on national priorities.
Arek added that the president also received and bid farewell to two newly appointed ambassadors: Sitona Abdallah Osman to India and Raphael Nhial Kulang to the United Arab Emirates, as part of efforts to strengthen South Sudan’s diplomatic presence abroad.
During the briefing, Arek emphasized the government’s commitment to deepening regional engagement and advancing South Sudan’s interests internationally.