25th Summit Opens in Arusha Without DRC’s Tshisekedi or Rwanda’s Kagame

ARUSHA, Tanzania March 7, 2026 - The 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) opened today in Arusha under the theme, “Deepening Integration to Improve the Living Conditions of EAC Citizens,” despite notable absences, including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Ahead of the summit, the EAC Council of Ministers met from March 2 to 5 to review progress on previous decisions, prepare key agenda items, and formulate recommendations for the heads of state. The summit agenda includes reviewing the Council’s report covering November 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025, implementing the 24th Summit directive on sustainable financing of the EAC budget, assessing the integration status of partner states admitted between 2016 and 2024, appointing a new Secretary-General, judges to the East African Court of Justice, renewing Deputy Secretaries-General mandates, appointing commissioners to the EAC Competition Authority, and approving draft laws from the East African Legislative Assembly. Several heads of state were present, including Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi and current African Union Chairperson), and William Ruto (Kenya and current EAC Chairperson). South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir was represented by his foreign minister, Semaya Kumba, while Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was expected to arrive later. Both Tshisekedi and Kagame delegated representatives-DRC’s Minister of Regional Integration Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi and Rwanda’s Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, respectively. Tshisekedi’s absence was due to attending the funeral of Reverend Jesse Jackson in the United States. The absence of the two leaders highlights ongoing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali over accusations of support for armed groups, including Rwanda’s alleged backing of the AFC/M23 rebellion and the DRC’s criticism of Kigali for supporting these rebels. The summit coincides with escalating security challenges in eastern DRC, where government forces continue to confront the Rwandan-backed AFC/M23. Diplomatic friction between the DRC and Rwanda persists despite efforts under the Washington and Doha frameworks. Observers note a broader sense of unease between Kinshasa and the EAC, fueled by perceptions that the DRC is distanced from regional decision-making and that the bloc is not fully engaged in resolving the eastern DRC security crisis. The 25th Summit thus opens in a complex regional context, with integration, security, and diplomatic reconciliation as key tests for the EAC and its member states.

Faits rapportés

ARUSHA, Tanzania March 7, 2026 - The 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) opened today in Arusha under the theme, “Deepening Integration to Improve the Living Conditions of EAC Citizens,” despite notable absences, including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Ahead of the summit, the EAC Council of Ministers met from March 2 to 5 to review progress on previous decisions, prepare key agenda items, and formulate recommendations for the heads of state. The summit agenda includes reviewing the Council’s report covering November 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025, implementing the 24th Summit directive on sustainable financing of the EAC budget, assessing the integration status of partner states admitted between 2016 and 2024, appointing a new Secretary-General, judges to the East African Court of Justice, renewing Deputy Secretaries-General mandates, appointing commissioners to the EAC Competition Authority, and approving draft laws from the East African Legislative Assembly. Several heads of state were present, including Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi and current African Union Chairperson), and William Ruto (Kenya and current EAC Chairperson). South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir was represented by his foreign minister, Semaya Kumba, while Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was expected to arrive later. Both Tshisekedi and Kagame delegated representatives-DRC’s Minister of Regional Integration Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi and Rwanda’s Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, respectively. Tshisekedi’s absence was due to attending the funeral of Reverend Jesse Jackson in the United States. The absence of the two leaders highlights ongoing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali over accusations of support for armed groups, including Rwanda’s alleged backing of the AFC/M23 rebellion and the DRC’s criticism of Kigali for supporting these rebels. The summit coincides with escalating security challenges in eastern DRC, where government forces continue to confront the Rwandan-backed AFC/M23. Diplomatic friction between the DRC and Rwanda persists despite efforts under the Washington and Doha frameworks. Observers note a broader sense of unease between Kinshasa and the EAC, fueled by perceptions that the DRC is distanced from regional decision-making and that the bloc is not fully engaged in resolving the eastern DRC security crisis. The 25th Summit thus opens in a complex regional context, with integration, security, and diplomatic reconciliation as key tests for the EAC and its member states.