Ruto amplifies Africa’s voice, calls for justice and inclusion at Doha summit

President William Ruto urged the world to place people at the centre of development, emphasising that global progress must translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.

Speaking for the African Group at the Second World Summit for Social Development, Ruto stressed that inequality continues to undermine decades of social gains.

“Poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion have been - and remain - the defining challenges of our time. Confronting them is not charity; it is justice for our people,” he said on Tuesday.

Reflecting on thirty years since the Copenhagen Summit, he acknowledged strides in education, health, and food security, but warned that disparities persist.

The president highlighted that in many African and Western Asian regions, hunger is rising, economic growth is slowing, and public services are under increasing pressure.

“Health and education systems are under strain, and energy deficits hold back opportunity,” he noted, underscoring the urgency of comprehensive social development strategies.

Ruto stressed that development is about more than income; it requires access to essential services that protect dignity.

“Universal access to affordable and quality healthcare is not a luxury; it is a right for every citizen,” Ruto said.

He also pointed to housing shortages, precarious employment, and the digital divide as major barriers that prevent individuals from realising their full potential.

The president called for universal connectivity, digital skills, and inclusive education that reaches every community, including people with disabilities.

Ruto emphasised that Africa’s development depends on transforming informal sectors, increasing productive capacity, and expanding access to global markets.

He urged international cooperation and reforms in financial systems, saying, “We call for comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture to make it fair, transparent, and responsive to the needs of developing nations and their people.”

He also pushed for solutions to debt distress, stronger tax cooperation, and a UN Convention on Sovereign Debt.

Highlighting the summit’s achievements, Ruto welcomed the 'Doha Declaration' as a reaffirmation of the principles laid out in the 'Copenhagen Declaration', which prioritises poverty eradication, decent work, and social integration.

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“This summit must rekindle genuine dialogue, restore trust, and reaffirm multilateralism as the anchor of collective progress,” he said.

He also emphasised that Africa must be properly represented in global institutions, including through two permanent and two non-permanent UN Security Council seats.

Linking social development to historical accountability, Ruto marked 2025 as the year of justice for Africans and people of African descent.

The president called for recognition and reparations for the impacts of slavery, colonisation, apartheid, and exploitation.

He further highlighted the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September 2026 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 'Durban Declaration', inviting global partners to support its implementation.

Ruto also urged world leaders to work toward a fair and resilient future: a world free of poverty, disease, racism, and inequality, where prosperity and digital opportunities are accessible to all.