Africa

AfDB Annual Meetings: Ruto proposes key reforms to strengthen African Union

Kenyan President William Ruto addresses leaders from the African continent who are attending the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings at the KICC in Nairobi on May 29, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Ruto said that with an AUC capable of handling Africa's economic relationships, the continent will be able to display its wealth and potential to the world and create opportunities for everyone, for the sake of comprehensive growth.

President William Ruto has proposed several changes as the new African Union Champion for Institutional Reforms, including giving the African Union Commission (AUC) more power to handle the continent's economic diplomacy.

Speaking at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto said that with an AUC capable of handling Africa's economic relationships, the continent will be able to display its wealth and potential to the world and create opportunities for everyone, for the sake of comprehensive growth.

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"We can unlock the potential of our continent, showcase the assets that we have—our minerals, agricultural and human capital, and natural resources—and use them to create investment opportunities," he told a gathering at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Kenyan President William Ruto (3rd L) and other leaders from the African continent take part in a panel discussion while attending the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings at the KICC in Nairobi on May 29, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

Ruto also suggested reducing the constitution of the Pan-African parliament from 275 members to 100, with each country having two representatives, male and female.

He also said the African Union (AU) needs to be improved to manage the integration of the African market with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The head of state further stressed that expanding trade within Africa is crucial for increasing its global share currently at around 2 per cent

"Today, in Africa, intra-African trade is at only 15 per cent while intra-Asia trade is at 60 per cent and intra-European trade at 70 per cent. We are struggling to look for markets everywhere except on our continent. We must first sell to the market we have on our continent," he said.

Ruto also said the AU must be transformed into a vehicle capable of securing the continent and that it must take charge of continental peace, security, and stability, and resolve wars and other conflicts plaguing Africa.

"We cannot progress if there is war in Sudan, trouble in Somalia, problems in the DRC, and problems in the Sahel. The African Union must step forward to be counted on to provide that cover."

Leaders pose for a picture while attending the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings at the KICC in Nairobi on May 29, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

In addition, President Ruto proposed that the AU create the Africa Court of Justice, allowing the nations to resolve their issues.

"We can sort out our issues. We don't want any Africans dragged to courts elsewhere to sort out our issues. The AU was initially a liberation movement. We must repurpose it to address the current challenges."

Lastly, Ruto emphasised the need for the AU to collaborate with all leaders in Africa to address the infrastructure gap. He said they would propose changes to the AU's role to tackle this matter as well as other urgent problems

President Ruto became the new African Union Champion for Institutional Reforms in February 2024, succeeding his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, at the African Union Heads of State and Government Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ruto is expected to provide leadership to help complete the Comprehensive Institutional Reform Initiative, which began in 2016. The reforms aim to improve the structure, functioning, and focus of the AUC, AU organs, and specialised agencies, making them more effective.