South Sudan President on Wednesday, September 13 met with the East African Community (EAC) delegation to discuss the affairs and status of implementation of the EAC integration program in Juba.
Speaking to the press, Secretary General of the East African Community, General Peter Mathuki, confirmed that President Salva Kiir will Chair of the East African Community, next year.
Currently, Burundi’s President, Evariste Ndayishimiye holds the EAC Chairmanship following the 22nd Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State in Arusha.
Ndayishimaye took over from Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta in July 2022.
During his speech the EAC Secretary General revealed that the decision of handing over the Chairmanship to South Sudan President was because of the South Sudanese nationals working in the regional block thus giving them the Chairmanship will help to ensure the integration of many more into the bloc.
At the same time, the undersecretary of East African Community Affairs, Ben Gideon, confirmed that South Sudan will take over EAC Chairmanship.
The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization consisting of seven partner countries Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Moreover, the EAC treaty guides the work on the regional bloc, which established the community. Member states signed the agreement in November 1999 and came into force in July 2000 following its ratification
South Sudan, Uganda Bilateral Talks
After meeting EAC officials President Salva Kiir travelled to Uganda for a state visit where he held talks with President Yoweri Museveni on bilateral relations and regional peace at State House, Uganda.
The two leaders discussed regional peace and security, particularly the crisis in Sudan and the Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the Presidential Affairs Minister, Marial Benjamin, the two leaders also discussed about the Revitalized peace agreement.
Additionally, the two leaders also discussed issues of mutual interests between the two nations.