By William Madouk
Heads of States of the East African Community (EAC) are set on Friday, June 7, 2024, to virtually convene the 23rd Extraordinary Summit.
The summit will be chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the EAC.
According to a communiqué, the key agenda items for the upcoming summit include the appointment of a successor to the outgoing Secretary-General of the EAC, Dr. Peter Mathuki, as well as decisions regarding the EAC Court of Justice.
“Consideration of the proposed appointment of a new sectary general and consideration of the proposed appointment of a judge to the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice from the Republic of Kenya,” partly read the press statement seen by this outlet.
The summit also will consider a report from President Kiir on his consultative meeting with member states on ‘partner state relations.’
“The heads of state are also set to consider the report of the consultative meetings by the chairperson of the summit on partner states’ relations,” it added.
In March, the Kenyan government initiated the process of replacing the East African Community (EAC) Secretary-General, Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki.
It is alleged that the decision to replace Dr Mathuki came as a result of allegations of misuse of the peace fund.
The Nairobi administration issued an executive order proposing to replace Mathuki with Caroline Mwende Mueke to complete the remaining two years of service at the EAC.
The matter was raised during the opening of the 3rd meeting of the 2nd Session of the 5th Assembly of the East African Legislative Assembly Plenary held in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to an earlier statement, the East Africa Legislative Assembly asked Mathuki to resign for failing to account for over $6 million of the peace fund.
Dr. Mathuki, whose term as the EAC Secretary General has been cut short, is leaving after two years in his service.
Recently, Mathuki accompanied President Salva Kiir to Kigali, Rwanda, for the peace talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
This was after Kiir embarked on his mission to push for peace in the war-torn northeastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He then flew to Bujumbura, Burundi for another meeting with the Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The EAC then issued a communique, giving an account of the peace trip and calling for strict adherence to the Nairobi Process and Luanda Agreement which covered various resolutions to a durable peace in DRC.
The Kinshasa government is accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels causing havoc in its territory. Likewise, Burundi has accused Rwanda of backing rebels located in its borders.