Nairobi — Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), pledging to advance the bloc’s vision of deeper regional integration and shared prosperity.

Speaking during the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Nairobi, President Ruto accepted the role “with gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of duty,” commending his predecessor, President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, for his leadership.

“I pledge to build on his achievements and work with every Member State as a committed and collaborative partner,” Ruto said. “Together, we will advance COMESA’s vision of shared prosperity, deeper integration, and true transformation. Let us shape COMESA into a digital, dynamic, and inclusive regional bloc that embodies the promise of a rising Africa.”

Ruto urged African nations to increase intra-African trade from the current 14% to 50%, emphasizing the need to remove visa restrictions, dismantle trade barriers, and stop exporting raw materials without value addition. “Unlocking trade for the 1.4 billion Africans would triple demand for our goods, products, and services,” he said.

Established in 1994 to replace the Preferential Trade Area (PTA), COMESA now comprises 21 member states with a combined population of over 640 million and a GDP exceeding US$1 trillion. With its strategy anchored in economic prosperity through regional integration, COMESA continues to serve as one of Africa’s most significant trading blocs.