Details of Ruto’s phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

A file photo of President William Ruto in his office at State House, Nairobi. /PCS

President William Ruto has revealed that he had a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.

He said they deliberated on several issues of mutual interest, including trade, regional and international peace and security.

"We discussed the need for the US government to support the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is a comprehensive framework between America and Africa,” he said.

They also agreed on the necessity for greater engagement of the US Department of Commerce in facilitating the growth of trade with Africa.

Ruto said he thanked President Donald Trump for appointing Massad Boulos as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region.

He noted that the move signals a strong US government commitment to Africa's regional stability, peace initiatives and resolution of conflicts.

“Secretary Rubio and I also discussed the situation in Haiti. He reaffirmed the strong US support for the Kenya-led effort to stabilise Haiti,” the President said.

In that regard, Ruto said he welcomed Rubio’s support for the effort to secure sustainable UN support for the Multi-National Security Support Mission (MSS).

On the peace and security situation in the region, Secretary Rubio thanked Kenya for the leadership role it is playing in the search for peace and resolution of conflicts.

This is on Kenya's role in providing forum for diverse Sudanese actors to engage in an effort to restore civilian governance, and on efforts with other partners including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in engaging the combatants on the need for dialogue and silencing the guns. 

“In this regard, I briefed him on the Joint Summit of Heads of State of the EAC-SADC on the DRC peace initiative, held on Monday,” Ruto said.

As regards the South Sudanese conflict, Ruto updated Rubio on the current situation and the initiatives they are engaged in to encourage the government and opposition to re-engage, de-escalate violence and rededicate themselves to the search for peace.

“I also briefed Secretary Rubio on escalating terrorist activities in Somalia and the necessity for our two countries to work together in confronting this threat to our interests as well as to international peace and security,” Ruto said.