President William Ruto has assumed the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), vowing to champion deeper regional integration and economic transformation across member states.
Speaking during the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Nairobi, President Ruto said he accepted the role “with gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of duty.”
He commended outgoing chair, President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, for his “wise leadership” that had driven notable progress within the bloc, pledging to build on those gains through collaboration and partnership.
“Together, we will advance COMESA’s vision of shared prosperity, deeper integration, and true transformation,” Ruto said. “Let us shape COMESA into a digital, dynamic, and inclusive regional bloc that embodies the promise of a rising Africa.”
The 24-member regional body brings together economies from Eastern and Southern Africa, with a focus on boosting intra-regional trade, industrialisation, and economic cooperation.
