Four key issues Ruto and other EAC leaders will discuss in Arusha today

East African Community (EAC) heads of state are currently meeting in Arusha, Tanzania.

During the meeting, they are scheduled to discuss a raft of issues affecting the region across many areas.

Some of the areas of focus would be the economy and largely regional integration.

The meeting is the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State.

According to the EAC, the leaders will discuss the report on the negotiations for the admission of the Federal Republic of Somalia into the community.

Somalia has been pushing to have it admitted into the regional bloc for close to a decade now.

A verification report was adopted by the heads of the state during the 21st Extra-Ordinary Summit in Bujumbura, Burundi, on February 4, 2023.

They will also deliberate on the progress report of the EAC-led Nairobi Process on the restoration of peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The process is spearheaded by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The East African leaders will also look at the progress report on Sustainable Financing Mechanisms of the East African Community.

The leaders will also discuss the progress report on the Consultations on the Constitution of the Political Confederation of the EAC.

President William Ruto on Thursday evening arrived in Arusha, Tanzania for the regional summit.

He also attended a high-level meeting on climate change and food security that was organised by the EAC.

Ruto has been at the forefront of championing a change in climate change financing to help middle-income countries better fight the environmental crisis largely caused by rich nations.

Other Presidents attending the meeting include host President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Salva Kiir of South Sudan among others.