President William Ruto will on Sunday host at least five presidents to discuss reforms earmarked for the African Union Commission.
President Ruto,
who is the champion of African Union reforms, will chair the talks that are
expected to provide a roadmap for the acceleration of radical changes at the
institution.
The meeting
will also be attended by top AUC officials led by outgoing chairperson Moussa
Faki as Ruto seeks political goodwill to institute the far-reaching reforms.
A dispatch from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the retreat will deliberate on AU institutional reforms.
“Participants will engage in focused deliberations on restructuring AU organs, institutions, and agencies to streamline operations and improve the decision-making process,’’ the ministry said.
On enhancing financial autonomy, the discussion will address innovative mechanisms for sustainable financing of the AU, reducing reliance on external donors and ensuring the union’s financial independence.
“The retreat will explore strategies to strengthen the Pan-African Parliament, operationalise the African Court of Justice, and reinforce governance and accountability across AU institutions in a bid to revitalise the AU organs,” the ministry added.
Some of the heads of state and government expected to attend the retreat include Comoros President Azali Assoumani, Togo’s Faure Gnassinge, Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau and Ethiopia’s Taye Atske Selassie.
New Ghana president Johan Mahama who was sworn in this month will also attend the meeting.
The majority of the presidents arrived in the country on Saturday including Embalo who is on a two-day state visit.
Speaking when he hosted Embalo at State House, Ruto said the State visit speaks to the deep bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
He said that as the designated Champion for the African Union Institutional Reforms, he reaffirmed Kenya's steadfast commitment to advancing reforms within the African Union.
Ruto said the reforms are essential to ensuring that the Union's institutions remain responsive, effective, and aligned with the evolving needs of our continent.
“I am
committed to collaborating closely with Guinea-Bissau and other partners to
drive this reform agenda and fulfil the mandate entrusted to me by the African
leadership during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State
and Government,’’ Ruto said.
