Somali President Arrives in Tanzania for EAC Summit as Bloc Eyes New Leadership, Trade Reforms

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia arrived in Arusha on March 7, 2026, to join other East African leaders for the 25th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State, where regional integration, trade facilitation, and the election of new leadership will top the agenda.

The Somali leader was among five heads of state attending the summit in person at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), alongside Kenya's William Ruto (current EAC chair), Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, and Burundi's Évariste Ndayishimiye. Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Democratic Republic of Congo's Félix Tshisekedi, and South Sudan's Salva Kiir delegated ministers to represent them.

Scheduled for March 7 under the theme "Deepening Integration for Improved Livelihoods of EAC Citizens," the summit will address several critical issues affecting the eight-member bloc.

A key item is the election of a new EAC Chairperson for a one-year term, with President Ruto handing over leadership. Analysts suggest Tanzania is the frontrunner to assume the rotational chair, having last held the position in 2017

Summit Agenda and Key Initiatives

Leaders will officially launch the EAC Seventh Development Strategy (2026/27–2030/31), a five-year roadmap aligned with the EAC Vision 2050 and African Union Agenda 2063, aimed at accelerating regional integration and socio-economic transformation.

A major milestone expected from the summit is the launch of the EAC Customs Bond, a unified regional guarantee system designed to replace multiple national bonds along transit routes. According to EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva, the system will integrate customs administrations, insurers, and financial institutions under a single regional framework, reducing compliance costs, cutting border delays, and facilitating faster movement of goods across the Community .

The summit will also appoint a new EAC Secretary General as Kenya's tenure expires in April, designate judges to the East African Court of Justice, confirm Deputy Secretary General appointments, and select leaders for the EAC Competition Commission.

Progress toward the East African Monetary Union will also be discussed, with laws establishing precursor institutions expected to receive assent.

Regional Challenges and Somalia's Integration

Deliberations will address persistent non-tariff barriers, including a recent trade dispute between Uganda and South Sudan over newly introduced e-permit fees that have stranded trucks at the Nimule border.

The summit will also tackle critical financial issues, with the EAC facing over $89.3 million in outstanding contributions from member states. The Democratic Republic of Congo leads in arrears with $27 million, followed by Burundi ($22.7 million), South Sudan ($21.8 million), and Somalia ($10.5 million). Only Kenya and Tanzania have fully paid their $7 million contributions for the 2025/26 financial year .

For Somalia, the summit represents an opportunity to advance its regional integration strategy following its admission as the bloc's newest member in November 2023 and full membership in March 2024 . Ambassador Ilyas Ali Hassan, Somalia's Permanent Representative to the EAC, represented the country at the preparatory 59th Extraordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers on March 5, reaffirming Mogadishu's commitment to the Community's core objectives.

Somalia's participation builds on recent diplomatic achievements, including February 2026 authorization to issue the EAC e-Passport, which harmonizes travel documentation across member states with biometric security features . The country also signed a migration cooperation memorandum of understanding with Tanzania in February, providing visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders and faster processing for ordinary visas .

The outcomes of the 25th Ordinary Summit are expected to strengthen policy coordination among partner states and accelerate implementation of regional programs aimed at fostering inclusive growth and deeper economic integration across the 331-million-person market with a combined GDP of approximately $312.9 billion.8u