President William Ruto was elected Chairman of the East African Community (EAC) during the 24th EAC Heads of State Summit held at Arusha, Tanzania, following a vote of confidence from the member states’ heads of state.
Ruto who succeeds South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has already outlined his first major assignment following the election.
Speaking on Saturday, the Kenyan leader announced that he, alongside Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, will mediate a simmering dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia that threatens the stability of the region.
The conflict stems from Ethiopia’s military presence in Somalia, where it has deployed thousands of troops to fight al-Qaida-linked insurgents.
Tensions have escalated over Ethiopia’s plans to build a port in Somaliland, a breakaway region, in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty.
“Because the security of Somalia is crucial to the stability of our region, it is essential for creating a conducive environment for investors, businesspeople, and entrepreneurs to thrive,” Ruto said during a press conference.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has struggled to gain international recognition despite enjoying relative peace and stability in contrast to Somalia’s ongoing challenges.
Tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia
The dispute has also pushed Somalia closer to Egypt, which has had longstanding tensions with Ethiopia over the latter’s construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile River, as well as Eritrea, another rival of Ethiopia.
Also Read: Ruto Blasts Sudan Military for Messing up the Country
Previous efforts to resolve the conflict, including talks in Ankara, Turkey, have failed to yield a lasting solution.
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Now, with Ruto at the helm of the EAC, he faces an uphill task to find a sustainable resolution to the complex foreign relations between the two EAC member states.
Earlier in November, Ruto had a discussion with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the situation in South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia following his visit to South Sudan and Ethiopia.
“Kenya is working closely with the United Nations to restore peace and security in our region. We are working on a post-African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) strategy to support our neighbour on her journey to peace and stability,” said Ruto.
Ruto pledges to advance EAC vision and mission
Following his election as the EAC boss, Ruto expressed his gratitude towards member states for entrusting him with the responsibility of Chairing the EAC Summit for the next one year.
Also Read: Ruto Elected as EAC Chairman
Ruto highlighted that EAC achieved much integration within member states under Salva Kiir’s leadership.
“This is both honour and a profound duty that I undertake with humility, commitment and determination and I pledge to work diligently alongside each and every member to advance the vision and mission of our community,” the head of State pledged.
In addition, the President promised to enhance the lives of EAC members by focusing on increasing competitiveness, promoting value-added production, boosting inter-regional trade, and driving investment into the region’s economies.
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