The African Executive congratulates Dr Richard Sezibera on his appointment as the new secretary-general of the East African Community (EAC) and pays tribute to Juma Mwapachu, who completed a five-year non-renewal term. Acknowledging the opportunity to lead the EAC into its second decade, Dr. Sezibera Kigali has pledged to strengthen and bring to fruition the community’s programmes - key being overseeing the next facet of integration: Monetary Union and ultimate Political Federation.

It is worth noting that the African Union has come under fire from African citizenry for not being proactive to matters facing respective member countries. We hope the same will not be said of the EAC under Dr. Sezibera’s tenure. East Africans hope that he will be proactive to help the region navigate through pertinent current issues such as the mounting inflationary pressure in East African countries; spill-over effects of the increasing political crises in Africa and clamour of citizens to have the benefits of the integration trickle down to them.

At a time when global powers are intervening in African matters and Brazil, China, India and Europe are courting the continent, Dr. Sezibera has an onerous task to position the people of East Africa to engage and reap profits from the interaction.