The 23rd Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government successfully took place in Bujumbura, Burundi, on October 31, 2024. The Embassy of Uganda in Burundi was represented at the event and offered protocol services fot visiting dignitaries.

President Evariste Ndayishimiye assumed the role of Chair of COMESA for the next year, succeeding Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema, who formally handed over the instruments of power for the 21-member trade bloc. 

This year, the theme of the summit was “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism”. A new COMESA Bureau was inaugurated, with Burundi as Chair, Kenya as Vice Chair, and Zambia as Rapporteur.

Key developments over the past year were highlighted, including enhanced facilitation of intra-regional trade through improved customs border management, streamlined clearance procedures, and the digitization of trading instruments. A significant summit announcement was the launch of a program aiming to connect 100 million people to clean energy within the next seven years, reflecting COMESA’s commitment to sustainable development.

A number of Heads of State attended and addressed the summit, including President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, President Andry Nirina Rajoelina of Madagascar and President Taye Atske Selassie Amde of Ethiopia. Uganda was represented by Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo.

The next COMESA Summit is scheduled to take place in Kenya in 2025.