Burundi’s absence forces EAC to push back key ministerial session
The delay in holding the meeting prolongs uncertainty over how the Secretariat will address the vacancies and maintain operations. Partner states are now expected to revisit the matter when the Council reconvenes on October 13.
The East African Community (EAC) has been forced to postpone a key Council of Ministers meeting that was to tackle an escalating staffing crisis at its Secretariat, after Burundi requested a change of date.
The meeting, which was set for October 3, has now been moved to October 13, stalling critical discussions on the future of short-term staff and the recruitment of new personnel.
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Burundi’s Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Cooperation Minister Edouard Bizimana wrote to EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva on September 26, informing her that he would be unable to attend on the scheduled date.
“I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 25, pertaining to the above-captioned subject matter,” Bizimana stated in the letter.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to attend the ministerial session on the proposed date and kindly request your office to reschedule the meeting in line with the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) session scheduled to begin on October 13,” he added.
The postponed session is part of the 58th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, which had been left incomplete and required ministers to reconvene to make final decisions.
However, the quorum requirement means the discussions could not proceed without Burundi’s participation.
In her letter dated September 25, Nduva had invited partner states to Arusha on October 3 to deliberate on a staffing roadmap.
The letter was sent to Council Chairperson Beatrice Eskul, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the EAC, and copied to her counterparts from Uganda, Somalia, DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania.
“You would recall that the ministerial session of the 58th Extraordinary Meeting of Council was not concluded. Consequently, no decisions have been made on these matters, as required by the Council’s Rules of Procedure,” Nduva wrote.
The Secretariat is operating with a major personnel shortage. Out of 420 positions, 152 remain vacant, and 33 more staff members are expected to leave by the end of 2025.
In September alone, over 40 short-term employees exited after the Council failed to agree on whether to extend their contracts beyond June 2025.
The delay in holding the meeting prolongs uncertainty over how the Secretariat will address the vacancies and maintain operations. Partner states are now expected to revisit the matter when the Council reconvenes on October 13.
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