East African regional leaders have gathered in Tanzania’s economic capital Dar-es-Salaam to attend the 17th extra-ordinary summit of the East African Community.
A communiqué from the office of EAC Secretariat says the 17th EAC extra-ordinary summit of heads of state will consider ministerial council reports of South Sudan and Burundi, as well as considering new EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement.
Burundi and South Sudan have experienced political conflict, and now the regional states are looking to restore peace in them.
Burundi descended into conflict in April last year following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s declaration that he would bid for a controversial third term in office.
South Sudan on the other hand has experienced continued violence, the latest being in July when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir clashed with those loyal to Riek Machar in the capital Juba.
The meeting EU leaders will also consider the EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement which would lift trade barriers between the two organizations.
Tanzania is not keen on the deal, but Kenya and Rwanda have already signed it.
