President Ruto elected as a new leader for the East African Community

The new leader of the East African Community is President William Ruto. 

He takes over for South Sudan President Salva Kiir, whose term is over after one year.

President Ruto has said that the way his predecessor led the bloc was “exemplary” and “visionary.”

According to the President, the EAC has made great progress in increasing integration and making success in key areas that define our shared goals while under his steady leadership.

He takes over as leader of the region at a time when the eight-country economic bloc is trying to create a political union.

Kenya promised to keep leading the economic group at the 24th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State High-Level Side Event on EAC@25 in Arusha on Friday.

“The goal of an EAC Political Confederation is an amazing step toward bringing our region together,” the President said.
He said that even though there are problems that need to be fixed, a political union could have huge benefits. 

“We need to take advantage of new opportunities and make the EAC more stable and competitive so that the process of making a single continental market goes faster,” he said.

The President said that one of his main goals as president will be to make life better for the people of East Africa. 

“Our main goals will be to make the region more competitive, encourage production with added value, boost trade within the region, and encourage investments,” he said. 

He also said that these factors are very important for changing the economies of the partner states, making jobs, and making sure that the region’s growth is sustainable.

President Ruto told the EAC Summit that the region needed to get rid of trade hurdles within the region because trade is still the key to economic growth and regional unity. 

The President said, “We must get rid of non-tariff barriers, improve the connectivity of infrastructure, and work to harmonize regulations.”

He said this would make trade easier and make the EAC more competitive, which would help the economy grow.

Chairperson Salva Kiir said he was proud of the work he had done.
He said, “The Community is getting stronger.”

The president of South Sudan said that the focus should now be on improving peace and security in the region, making trade within the East African Community (EAC) stronger, and speeding up the digital change.