• Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Chairperson of the Summit
  • Excellencies, Heads of State
  • Dr Peter Mathuki, Secretary-General of the East African Community
  • Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank the Chairperson of the East African Community, President Uhuru Kenyatta, for convening this Extraordinary Summit to consider the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo into the East African Community, which is in line with our quest for wider and deeper integration of our region and continent.

I congratulate our brothers and sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo and welcome them into the East African Community family.

Rwanda commends the Council of Ministers and the East African Community Secretariat for speeding up this admission process.

The accession of DRC increases the potential and strength of our bloc, in terms of market size, and negotiating voice with third countries.

I urge all organs and institutions of the Community to accelerate the full integration of DRC into our organization, in keeping with the roadmap approved by the Council of Ministers.

Rwanda stands ready to play its part in this process.

Before I conclude, allow me to extend condolences to the Government and people of Uganda, for the untimely passing of the Right Honourable Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

Once again, I congratulate the Democratic Republic of Congo, and President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, for this historic step.

I thank you for your kind attention.