Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) have appointed Tanzanian diplomat Stephen Patrick Mbundi as the regional bloc’s new secretary-general, bypassing South Sudan, which had been widely expected to take the position under the rotational arrangement.
Mbundi succeeds Veronica Nduva of Kenya, whose term leading the eight-member regional organization has ended.
The decision to award the post to Tanzania effectively sidelines South Sudan, which was next in rotation but has faced criticism from partner states over unpaid financial contributions to the bloc.
The appointment was announced Saturday during an extraordinary summit of EAC heads of state in Arusha, Tanzania.
South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, did not attend the summit and instead sent his foreign minister to represent the country.
During the meeting, regional leaders also agreed on a series of reforms aimed at improving the financial sustainability and decision-making efficiency of the bloc.
Speaking at the summit, Kenyan President William Ruto said the heads of state had made “very consequential decisions” on how the community will be funded and managed.
Among the key changes is a new formula for member states’ contributions to the EAC budget, replacing the current system in which all countries contribute equally.
Under the new arrangement, half of the budget will be funded through equal contributions by member states, while the remaining 50% will be calculated based on the size of their economies.
“The countries that have bigger economies and benefit more from the community should pay more, and those with smaller economies will pay equitably,” Ruto said.
The summit also agreed to ease the burden on partner states that have accumulated arrears by waiving 50% of their outstanding contributions. The remaining balance must be paid within two years, Ruto said.
In another reform, leaders agreed that decisions within the expanded bloc can be made either by consensus or by a two-thirds majority vote.
Ruto said the change was necessary as the community has grown from three founding members to eight countries, making unanimous decision-making increasingly difficult.
Leaders also agreed that salaries for members of the East African Legislative Assembly will no longer be paid by the regional bloc. Beginning with the next parliamentary term, lawmakers will instead be paid by their respective national parliaments, while the EAC will cover allowances for official regional duties.
The summit further decided that countries nominating candidates for senior EAC positions — including secretary-general, speaker of the legislative assembly and president of the regional court — must have ratified the EAC treaty and fulfilled all treaty obligations.
Ruto also said salaries of EAC staff, which have not been reviewed since 2006, will be reassessed starting in January 2027.
At the end of the meeting, Ruto handed over the rotating chairmanship of the bloc to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
“I take this opportunity to register my sincere appreciation to all members of the summit for the cooperation extended to the Republic of Kenya and to me,” Ruto said.