Ruto roots for African Court of Justice for continent's conflicts

Addressing rising cases of conflict in the continent lies in establishing the African Court of Justice, President William Ruto has said.

The President spoke when he opened the retreat on the Institutional Reforms of the African Union (AU) in Naivasha.

Ruto said the AU faces various challenges and obstacles which hinder its effectiveness in supporting member countries in trade and international commitment.

He promised to address the challenges that the AU is facing including financial support, division of labour and lack of an organ to resolve rising disputes in the region.

But addressing the conference, the President said there was a need to empower AU through the establishment of the court, and supporting the Pan-African parliament.

He said there had been various conflicts between the organs under the AU but there were no instruments of institutions to resolve the disputes.

“Part of the envisaged reforms include forming the Africa Court of Justice and this will go a long way in addressing rising cases of conflicts between various organs and countries,” he said.

Ruto admitted that despite the presence of the Pan-African parliament, the institution was dormant and did not have any powers to make decisions.

“The Pan-African parliament has 275 members and part of the reforms should be looking if it’s too big and how it can be rationalised while at the same time funding it,” he said.

The President admitted that funding had been a major challenge for the AU, adding that he had engaged his colleagues who had promised to look into the issue.

He said the continent had high and untapped potential in the energy, agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors which if used could change the fortunes of millions.

“Africa cannot stay on the periphery as major decisions by other continents are made and the only way of achieving this is empowering and restructuring the AU,” he said.

The chairperson of the AU Moussa Faki lauded the ongoing reforms, adding that they would make the regional body more productive and active.

He identified political obstacles by some member states, failure to ratify legal institutions and funding as some of the major challenges currently facing AU.

“We welcome the ongoing reforms and we are calling on all the leaders of member states to commit themselves to this process before the coordination summit in July,” he said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi promised the country’s commitment to the reforms which are being led by Ruto.

“Based on the talks, it’s evident that the African Union is facing tens of challenges but Ruto has promised to tackle them as part of the reforms,” he said.