East African Community (EAC) Heads of State will reconvene on Friday February 1, 2019 at headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, this website has confirmed.
The 20th summit comes after the region has been sucked in bickering amongst its member states.
Last year, the chairman of the community, Ugandan President, Gen. Yoweri Museveni deferred the meeting twice after Burundi rejected to attend.
Later Burundi’s leader Pierre Nkurunziza accused his counterpart Paul Kagame of facilitating a rebellion against his country.
Previously Burundi has defended its absence saying the EAC schedule has coincided with the mourning of independence heroes Louis Rwagasore and Melchoir Ndadaye.
This website understands Burundi has agreed to send representatives to attend a Council of Ministers ahead of the main event on Friday, a move seen as progress in resolving ‘EAC woes.’
The Friday meeting was slated for December 27, 2018 but the secretariat later announced it had been postponed to a later date.
The announcement didn’t shock the observers who earlier mentioned of widening crack in the six nation bloc.
EAC communications team confirmed the Friday Summit at Arusha.
Council of Ministers Meeting Underway
The 38th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the East African Community Council of Ministers is currently underway at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The three-day meeting which kicked off today with the Session of Senior Officials of Senior Officials which will be followed by the Session of Permanent/Principal Secretaries/Undersecretaries on Tuesday, 29th January, 2019 and the Ministerial Session on 30th January, 2019.
The 38th Extra-Ordinary Council is being in preparation for the 20th Summit of the EAC Heads of State slated for Friday, 1st February, 2019.
Among the items on the Agenda of the 38th Council are reports on the: Implementation of Previous Decisions of the Council; Office of the Secretary General; Report on Planning and Infrastructure; Productive and Social Sectors; Political Matters; Customs and Trade; Finance and Administration Matters; Other EAC Organs.
Also on the agenda of the Council are: the Report of the Council to the Summit and Consideration of the EAC Calendar of Activities for the period January-June 2019.
