Why Ruto was preferred over Tshisekedi as chair in EAC Election

Kenya’s President William Ruto has been chosen to lead the East African Community (EAC) heads of state summit, taking over the role through the bloc’s rotational system. The summit, held in Arusha, also marked 25 years of EAC integration.

DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, expected to take over from South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, did not attend the meeting. Due to ongoing domestic and security challenges in DR Congo, some leaders doubted his ability to handle the role. Instead, they turned to Ruto as a stable choice.

Leaders at the summit included Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and South Sudan’s Salva Kiir. Somalia was next in line for the chairmanship, but it’s still aligning with the EAC systems.

Ruto pledged to improve the lives of East Africans by boosting trade, investments, and regional competitiveness. He urged the EAC secretariat to finalize an economic partnership with the European Union, which allows Kenyan goods duty-free access to Europe.

President Kagame supported Ruto’s push for stricter compliance with financial contributions from member states, proposing penalties for defaulters. Currently, Burundi, South Sudan, and DR Congo owe contributions for the 2024/25 fiscal year. Kagame said, "We need strict compliance measures because the current situation is neither acceptable nor sustainable."

President Kiir emphasized enhancing peace, trade, and digital transformation. Meanwhile, President Samia called for unity, and Museveni advocated for removing trade barriers.