Leaders of the eight member states of the East African Community (EAC) will convene in Arusha on March 7, 2026 for the 25th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, a high-level meeting expected to chart the next phase of regional integration and economic cooperation.
The summit will be held under the theme “Deepening Integration for Improved Livelihoods of EAC Citizens,” reflecting the bloc’s renewed focus on strengthening trade, improving infrastructure, and expanding opportunities for people and businesses across the region.
Heads of State from eight partner countries Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia are expected to attend the meeting.
Among the key highlights of the summit will be the launch of the EAC Customs Bond, a new regional guarantee system designed to simplify cross-border trade.
The initiative will replace the multiple national customs bonds currently required when goods move across different EAC countries.
Officials say the new system will help reduce transport costs, speed up cargo clearance at border posts and ease trade within the region, benefiting traders and logistics companies operating across East Africa.
The summit will also consider and adopt the 7th EAC Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), a five-year roadmap aimed at accelerating socio-economic transformation in the region.
The strategy aligns with the bloc’s long-term framework, EAC Vision 2050, which seeks to build a prosperous, competitive and secure regional economy.
Another key item on the agenda will be leadership appointments within the community. The Heads of State are expected to appoint a new Secretary General of the EAC, as well as judges to serve at the East African Court of Justice and commissioners for the regional Competition Authority.
The summit will further deliberate on proposals to strengthen the financial sustainability of the regional bloc, including a new contribution formula that proposes 65 percent equal contributions from member states and 35 percent based on assessed contributions.
Ahead of the summit, an Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers is taking place in Arusha from March 2 to March 5, where ministers are reviewing policy documents and proposals before forwarding them to the Heads of State.
Meanwhile, journalists wishing to cover the summit have been advised to apply for accreditation between March 3 and March 5, 2026, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Local media practitioners in Tanzania are required to register at the Regional Information Office in Arusha, while foreign journalists must register through the EAC Media Centre.
The Arusha summit is expected to mark an important milestone for the regional bloc as partner states push for deeper economic integration, expanded trade and improved livelihoods for more than 300 million citizens across the East African Community.