East African Community

𝐄𝐀𝐂 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐬 $𝟒𝟔.𝟑 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐐𝟏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The EAC recorded strong trade growth in the first quarter of 2026, with total trade rising by 30.7% to US$46.3 billion. Export earnings grew faster than imports, driving the region’s trade surplus to US$1.6 billion.

Africa remained the EAC’s largest trading partner, while trade with SADC continued to show strong growth.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗘𝗔𝗖 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻 (𝗝𝗮𝗻–𝗠𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲) 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:https://eac.opendataforafrica.org/ihrbbkg/statistics-bulletin

𝐄𝐀𝐂 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐀 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 - 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

EAC Ministers of Health have agreed to harmonise Ebola surveillance and protective measures at all airports, ports and land border crossings across the region, and to establish a dedicated Regional Technical Taskforce to coordinate the response to the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. 

These were among the key resolutions reached at the 8th Extraordinary Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health that was just concluded.

The meeting was convened to review the evolving Ebola situation and provide strategic policy direction for a coordinated regional response.

🔹Read the full Press Release : shorturl.at/Ghkvu

Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Amb. Catherine Karemu, paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

They deliberated on the current state of EAC integration, with emphasis on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing trade facilitation to support regional development.

The EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi, took the Oath of Allegiance as an Ex-Officio Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Arusha, Tanzania, during a special sitting of the Assembly.

Ex-Officio Members report to EALA on the implementation of the Treaty and other matters of interest to the Partner States. They consist of the Ministers responsible for regional cooperation in each Partner State, the EAC Secretary General, and the Counsel to the Community.

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐀𝐂 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐲

South Sudan’s Minister of EAC Affairs, Hon. Pieng Deng Kuol, has presented the Act domesticating the EAC Treaty to the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi.

▪️The Act follows the recent assent to the Treaty Establishing the EAC Act, 2026, by H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan, formally incorporating the EAC Treaty and its protocols into the national legal framework. It also responds to directives of the EAC Heads of State Summit urging Partner States to conclude domestication processes to enable full implementation of Community obligations.
🔹The domestication gives legal effect to EAC laws and protocols within South Sudan, allowing their application by national institutions.

🔹It also brings South Sudan’s legal framework into conformity with Article 8(2) of the EAC Treaty and is expected to strengthen implementation of key regional integration priorities, including the Common Market Protocol, free movement of factors of production, legal harmonisation and broader participation in Community programmes.

The Council of Ministers is the policy-making organ of the EAC. It comprises of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and/or Regional Cooperation /Ministers designated by the respective Partner States.

@EACAffairsKenya

The 60th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers was held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The meeting considered the report of the Coordination Committee, which reviewed reports of the Finance and Administration Committee and financial matters of the Community.

📍Currently Ongoing

The 60th Extra Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers meeting has kicked off today with the session of Senior Officials at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Key agenda includes;

🔷Consideration of the Reports of the Meeting of Finance and Administration Committee and the Financial Matters of the Community.

🔷Consideration by EALA to facilitate the Budget Approval process for FY 2026/2027.

The session will be followed by the meeting of the Coordination Committee and Council of Ministers, concluding on 22nd May, 2026.

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Tanzania & the EAC, H.E. Andrey Avetisyan, paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi at the HQ, Arusha.

Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between the EAC & Russia to advance integration & on mutual development initiatives.

𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The 14th EAC Armed Forces Command Post Exercise has officially opened today in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together military, police and civilian participants from EAC Partner States to strengthen regional preparedness and collective security.

🔹The multinational exercise seeks to enhance joint operational capability in Peace Support Operations, Counter Terrorism, Counter Piracy and Disaster Management through coordinated training, command post drills and scenario-based simulations.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, EAC Deputy Secretary General, underscored that peace, security and unity remain fundamental pillars for the success of the Community.

On his part, Kenya’s Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General John Omenda, reaffirmed the importance of collective security and regional collaboration in strengthening peace, stability and resilience across the region.

The exercise also featured the symbolic handover of the EAC flag, signifying unity, cooperation and the shared commitment of EAC Partner States to safeguarding regional peace and stability.