Salva Kiir struggles to read maiden speech after election as EAC chair

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (Image: AFP)

South Sudan President Salva Kiir made some verbal slip-ups during his maiden speech as the East African Community (EAC) chairman.

While addressing the heads of state on November 25, 2023, for the first time as the EAC chair, President Kiir struggled to read out his speech.

He began his speech by thanking the dignitaries and acknowledging the Presidents who were present in the meeting.

President Kiir made a slip-up when recognising Tanzania President Samia Suluhu and President of Congo Felix Tshisekedi.

"Your Excellency Samia Suluhu, President of the United Republic of Rwanda..of.. Tanzania, Your Excellency Felix Tshisekedi representing President of Uganda.. of Congo," he said.

He, however, corrected himself and mentioned the correct country with the help of the EAC Secretary General.

He went on to read his speech with some parts proving to be a hard nut to crack for him.

President Kiir officially took on the role of chair of the EAC a regional economic bloc.

Kiir succeeded Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye.

The new EAC chair thanked the East African Countries for coming out to support the peace mission in South Sudan.

He urged leaders of the regional bloc to collaborate in addressing challenges faced by the region.

EAC was founded in 2000 and works to encourage trade by removing customs duties between member states. 

The treaty for the establishment of the East African Community was signed on November 30, 1999, and entered into force on July 7, 2000, following its ratification by the original three partner States – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Rwanda and Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on June 18, 2007, and became full members of the Community with effect from July 1, 2007. South Sudan became a member in 2016.

On April 8, 2022, DRC formally joined the EAC after the signing of the Treaty of the Accession of the DRC into the EAC in Nairobi.

The EAC aims at widening and deepening cooperation among the Partner States in, among others, political, economic and social fields for their mutual benefit.

To this extent, the EAC countries established a Customs Union in 2005.

The main services administered by the EAC include oversight of civil aviation, coordination of public health policy, promotion of Swahili as a regional language and funding of sustainable development initiatives.`