Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, former Undersecretary of the Ministry of East African Community Affairs in South Sudan - Credit: EAC

The Summit of East African Heads of State on Wednesday appointed South Sudan’s Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth as the region’s Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political sectors.

He will be replacing Christophe Bazivamo from Rwanda whose six-year term came to an end.

This was during the 21st Extraordinary EAC Heads of State Summit, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Bujumbura, Burundi, which discussed the security crisis in eastern DR Congo.

Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth was the Under Secretary of the Ministry of East African Community Affairs.

In March this year, the East African Community Council of Ministers endorsed the appointment of a South Sudanese as the Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Productive Service at the regional bloc.

The meeting on July 12, 2022, approved the recruitment of two officials; a Ugandan and a South Sudanese as deputy secretaries-general.

The positions advertised in August last year, are the Deputy Secretary-General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, and the Deputy Secretary-General for Customs, Trade, and Monetary Affairs.

According to The East African Community, the position to be filled by a South Sudanese felt vacant last year, when Rwanda’s Christophe Bazivamo’s six-year term came to an end.

Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda were not eligible for the post, as Kenya holds the Secretary-General’s position, the outgoing DSG is from Rwanda, and Steven Mlote, Deputy Secretary-General for Administration and Finance, is Tanzanian.

The Summit of the EAC Heads of State also appointed Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba Mutaawe from the Republic of Uganda as EAC Deputy Secretary General – Customs, Trade, and Monetary Affairs.

While Justice Kayembe Kasanda Ignace Rene, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is appointed the Judge of the East African Court of Justice in the First Instance Division.

Also, Justice Omar Othman Makungu from the United Republic of Tanzania is appointed as a Judge of the EACJ Appellate Division with effect from 20th June 2023.

Justice Makungu will be replacing Lady Justice Sauda Mjasiri.