Leaders of the eight member states of the East African Community (EAC) are set to meet in Arusha, Tanzania, for the 25th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State on March 7, 2026.
According to the bloc, the summit will focus on strengthening regional integration and enhancing coordinated development efforts aimed at improving living standards across member states.
The meeting will bring together heads of state from Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Burundi.
A key highlight of the summit will be the launch of the “EAC Customs Bond,” a unified regional customs guarantee scheme designed to replace multiple national bonds previously required for cross-border trade.
The new system will allow traders to use a single customs bond when transporting goods across EAC countries, reducing duplication and administrative burdens. It is also expected to streamline cooperation among customs authorities, insurance providers, and financial institutions, lower trade costs, and accelerate the movement of goods within the region.
Leaders are also expected to unveil the EAC’s Seventh Development Strategy, covering the period from 2026/27 to 2030/31. The five-year blueprint outlines the bloc’s priorities in deepening regional integration, boosting economic growth, and advancing shared prosperity.
EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva described the summit as a critical platform for guiding the community’s integration agenda.
“The Summit of EAC Heads of State remains the principal decision-making organ of the Community,” she said, noting that the Arusha meeting provides an opportunity to take decisive steps toward expanding trade and strengthening regional cooperation.
Despite progress in harmonizing policies, intra-EAC trade has remained at about 15 percent over the past decade below the 30 to 50 percent target. The bloc has a combined population of approximately 340 million people.