President Museveni Calls For More Integration at 23rd East African Community Summit
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni took center stage at the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State in Arusha, Tanzania, underscoring the urgent need for East African Community (EAC) integration, particularly emphasizing its significance for the region’s youth. The summit, operating under the theme “Accelerating Economic Recovery through Climate Action and Enhancing Food Security for Improved Livelihoods,” provided a dynamic platform for leaders to engage in crucial discussions shaping the East African region’s future.
In his impassioned address, President Museveni articulated three compelling reasons for prioritizing integration. He queried, “There are three reasons; number one is, do you want prosperity or not? If you say you don’t want prosperity, then there’s no problem, but if you say you want it, the question is, Where will the prosperity come from?“
Rejecting the notion of relying on foreign aid, the President asserted, “Prosperity cannot come from aid from foreigners or government handouts; it comes from a family, company, or individual who produces a good or a service and sells it.“
Emphasizing the pivotal role of market integration in prosperity, President Museveni shared insights into Uganda’s experience, stating, “You cannot talk of prosperity in Africa without talking about market integration.”
Drawing parallels with the organizational strength derived from market integration, he illustrated, “If you want to experiment with that, you should go to Latin America. It is richer than the United States in terms of natural resources…but you see the misery there.”
President Museveni called on East African leaders to champion market integration, declaring, “Markets are a stimulus for wealth creation and prosperity.”
Addressing the second reason for integration, strategic security, he posed the critical question, “How can you be secure in the world?” Underscoring the necessity of a united East African front for enhanced security, the President firmly stated, “Strategic security is one of the reasons why East Africa needs integration.“
The third reason, according to President Museveni, is “undugu” or brotherhood. Highlighting the linguistic advantage of having Swahili as a common East African language, he asserted, “We are even lucky that we have Swahili as the East African language; we can all speak Swahili. Therefore, it is easy for us to unite.“
Reflecting on Uganda’s experience, the President revealed, “A country like Uganda wasted a lot of time in war and so on. When we settled down, we started producing, and very soon we realized that the internal market was not enough for milk, maize, and sugar, among other products.”
Outgoing EAC Chair, President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, expressed gratitude for the active participation of his counterparts during his tenure. He listed notable achievements of the community and thanked fellow leaders for their unwavering support.
The new EAC Chair, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, expressed confidence that the candid discussions during the summit would significantly impact the community’s affairs. He reiterated South Sudan’s commitment to the EAC since joining in 2016.
In a historic moment, Somalia was admitted as the 8th member of the EAC during the summit, aligning with Article 3 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. The diverse gathering included leaders such as President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, President William Ruto of Kenya, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente of Rwanda, Vice Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba of the DRC, and EAC Secretary General Dr. Peter Mathuki.
As East Africa welcomes Somalia into its fold, the summit marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing journey towards regional integration, economic collaboration, and shared prosperity.