Finance Minister, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar (MP), represented Tanzania at the 25th Summit of Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC), held today, March 7, 2026, at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
The summit brought together leaders from all eight EAC member states to address pressing regional issues and chart the future direction of the Community.
The meeting focused on key challenges affecting the EAC Secretariat, including limited financial resources and staffing shortages, which have impacted the implementation of regional programs.
Leaders were expected to make crucial decisions to strengthen the Secretariat and ensure smooth operations across the Community.
Among the main agenda items were the progress of the EAC Common Market Protocol, the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to promote intra-regional trade, harmonisation of member states’ financial contributions, and enhancing cooperation in priority sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, and energy.
The EAC is made up of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia, with a combined population exceeding 300 million people and a collective Gross Domestic Product estimated at over USD 300 billion.
Ambassador Khamis emphasized Tanzania’s commitment to regional integration and its role in promoting sustainable development within the EAC.
His participation underscored the country’s continued leadership in advancing shared economic and social goals across East Africa.
