The COMESA Authority is COMESA's highest policy-making organ, consisting of the Heads of State and

Government of the various COMESA countries. It is in charge of COMESA's overall policy direction as
well as the control of the organization's executive functions. It is governed by a Chairman who is elected
for a set period of time

The Authority gathers once a year, although it may conduct an Extraordinary Summit at the request of
any member of the Authority as long as one-third of the Authority's members agree. Conferences are
held in various member states, with the host government and the COMESA Secretariat working
collaboratively for their organizing. The latest extraordinary Summit was held in 2000 at the official
launch of the COMESA FTA. Usually, the country hosting the Summit assumes the chairmanship of the
Authority for the year.

DECISION MAKING

In most cases, the Authority makes decisions through consensus. Despite the fact that its meetings are
held in closed session, the leaders release a communiqué at the conclusion of each meeting stating their
decisions.  Sometimes, the Authority will release declarations or statements regarding important
subjects. The Authority's orders and decisions are binding on all member states and other bodies to
which they are addressed.

Past Chair-persons of the COMESA Authority

1994 – 1997 His Excellency Dr Bakili Muluzi
President of the Republic of Malaw
1997 – 1999 His Excellency Dr Frederick Chiluba
President of the Republic of Zambia
1999 – 2000 His Excellency Daniel Arap Moi
President of the Republic of Kenya
2000 – 2001 His Excellency Sir Anerood Jugnauth
President of the Republic of Mauritius
2001 – 2002 His Excellency Mohammed Hosni Mubarak
President of the Republic of Egypt
2002 – 2003 His Excellency Meles Zenawi,
Prime Minister of The Federal Republic of Ethiopia
2003 – 2004 His Excellency Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
2004 – 2005 His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda
2005 – 2006 His Excellency Paul Kagame
President of the Republic of Rwanda
2006 – 2007 His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh
 President of the Republic of Djibouti
2007 – 2009 His Excellency Mwai Kibaki
President of the Republic of Kenya
2009 – 2010 His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
2010 – 2011 His Majesty King Mswati III
Ingwenyama of the Kingdom of Swaziland
2011 – 2012 His Excellency Ngwazi Prof. Bingu Wa Mutharika
President of the Republic of Malawi
2011 – 2012 His Excellency Ngwazi Prof. Bingu Wa Mutharika
President of the Republic of Malawi
2012 – 2014 His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda
2014 – 2015 His Excellency Joseph Kabila
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
2015 – 2016 His Excellency Ato Hailemariam Desalegn
Prime Minister of the Fedral Republic of Ethiopia
2016 – Present His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina
President of the Republic of Madagascar