EAC Hosts General’s Forum to Strengthen Regional Integration.

The East African Community (EAC) convened its 7th Secretary General’s Forum on December 10, 2024, in Nairobi, bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on ways to deepen regional integration. The event provided an avenue for addressing critical issues, including economic growth, social development, peace, and security, while reflecting on progress made over the years and charting a path forward for the bloc.

The forum tackled several key areas, such as drafting a constitution for the EAC political confederation, amending the EAC Treaty to align with the expanding membership, and fostering strategies to enhance integration. Stakeholders used the platform to share experiences, explore best practices, and propose solutions to challenges hindering the region’s development.

Felix Koskei, Kenya’s Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, graced the event as the Chief Guest, reaffirming President William Ruto’s commitment to advancing the EAC’s agenda as the current Chairperson of the Summit of Heads of State. He lauded the bloc’s achievements, including enhanced intra-regional trade, improved infrastructure, and empowerment of the youth, which have collectively advanced the region’s socio-economic standing.

Koskei said the joint hosting of the 2027 AFCON shows the EAC’s commitment to unity and collaboration. He called this milestone a step toward joint infrastructure projects and social integration programs in the region.

“These achievements highlight the immense potential of working together as a community,” Koskei remarked. Additionally, he emphasized accountability and transparency as essential for successful regional integration. Koskei praised the EAC for maintaining clean audits and urged citizens to engage in regional activities through various platforms.

He commended initiatives like the EAC e-Passport (2016) for easing movement and the Single Tourist Visa (2014) for seamless travel. Meanwhile, EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva highlighted 25 years of progress under the Customs Union and Common Market protocols.

She noted reduced trade barriers and improved movement of goods, services, and people across the region. Infrastructure upgrades, like One Stop Border Posts, have cut transport times from Mombasa to Kigali from 21 to 3 days.

These efforts have boosted trade, with intra-EAC trade growing from $6.2 billion in 2017 to $13.8 billion in 2023. Similarly, global trade rose from $65.3 billion to $109.4 billion, while AfCFTA increased Africa trade to $24.4 billion by 2023.