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Burundi's Libérat Mfumukeko to head EAC Secretariat

Thursday March 03 2016
mfumukeko

Burundi’s Libérat Mfumukeko will take over as the secretary-general of the East African Community in April 2016. PHOTO | COURTESY

Burundi’s Libérat Mfumukeko will take over as the secretary-general of the East African Community next month after heads of state in Arusha Wednesday appointed him to the position during the ongoing 17th EAC Summit.

Mfumukeko is the deputy secretary-general of EAC in charge of finance and administration since last year, and will be the first Burundian chief executive of the bloc since his country joined the Community in 2007.

Before heading to Arusha, the bloc’s headquarter, Mfumukeko served as the director-general of Burundi’s water and electricity authority. He also played a key role in setting up of his country’s Investment Promotion Authority in 2009.

Under the rotational leadership provided for in the EAC Treaty, Burundi was expected to take over both the chairmanship and secretary generalship, but abandoned its bid to chair the regional bloc over the country’s current political crisis.

READ: Search on for replacement for Burundi in EAC leadership

ALSO READ: Burundi to vie for EAC Secretary General

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Kenya eyes EAC post as Burundi in doubt

Tanzania will now extend its term as the chair of the Community under the leadership President John Magufuli with its former president Benjamin Mkapa taking over the lead role as the facilitator of the Burundi peace talks from Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.

Mfumukeko takes over from Rwanda's Richard Sezibera, whose five-year tenure at the helm of the EAC Secretariat expires in April.

Dr Sezibera succeed Juma Mwapachu from Tanzania (2006 to 2011). Other past SGs were Amanya Mushega from Uganda (2001 - 2006) and Kenya’s Francis Muthaura (1996-2001).

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