https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230717/kenyas-ruto-advocates-au-reforms-to-promote-african-self-sufficiency--1060585863.html
Kenya's Ruto Advocates AU Reforms to Promote African Self-Sufficiency
Kenya's Ruto Advocates AU Reforms to Promote African Self-Sufficiency
Sputnik Africa
The Kenyan president made the remarks during the African Union's fifth Mid-Year coordination meeting held in Nairobi, which brought together African leaders... 17.07.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-07-17T12:33+0200
2023-07-17T12:33+0200
2023-07-17T12:33+0200
sub-saharan africa
kenya
east africa
african union (au)
william ruto
african continental free trade area (afcfta)
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The African Union's (AU) institutional reforms should be capitalized on to ensure the continent's financial self-sufficiency, Kenyan President William Ruto has said at an AU meeting. According to the leader, currently more than 60% of the budget of pan-African programs is financed by foreign partners, which is "starkly inconsistent" with Africa's self-sustainability.Such reforms, Ruto underlined, should include defining the roles and functions of different organs and instruments in order to avoid duplication of functions and "to free up the African Union from structural and organizational constraints."The leader added that bringing African people together and advancing the Pan-African project is the continent's top priority.The president of Kenya also praised the progress of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a "magnificent project and historic achievement."Ruto cited figures for the initiative, revealing that the free trade area is projected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty and boost incomes by 7% by 2035.The Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union was hosted by Kenya's Nairobi on July 16 and this year was held under the theme "Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation."
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230704/african-countries-push-for-changes-as-global-financial-architecture-failing-the-world-1060333855.html
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kenya, east africa, african union (au), william ruto, african continental free trade area (afcfta)
kenya, east africa, african union (au), william ruto, african continental free trade area (afcfta)
Kenya's Ruto Advocates AU Reforms to Promote African Self-Sufficiency
The Kenyan president made the remarks during the African Union's fifth Mid-Year coordination meeting held in Nairobi, which brought together African leaders and African Union officials to deliberate on the regional agenda.
The African Union's (AU) institutional reforms should be capitalized on to ensure the continent's financial self-sufficiency, Kenyan President William Ruto has
said at an AU meeting.
According to the leader, currently more than 60% of the budget of pan-African programs is financed by foreign partners, which is "starkly inconsistent" with Africa's self-sustainability.
"The demands of our challenging time require an AU that can pursue multiple urgent and critical interventions using internally-mobilized resources. The Pan-African movement has always been about sovereignty and agency, first and foremost," Ruto stressed.
Such reforms, Ruto underlined,
should include defining the roles and functions of different organs and instruments in order to avoid duplication of functions and "to free up the African Union from structural and organizational constraints."
The leader added that bringing African people together and advancing the Pan-African project is the continent's top priority.
"Whether we are talking about regional economic communities or mechanisms, or the broader continental effort, the unity of African peoples is our primary goal," Ruto noted.
The president of Kenya also praised the progress of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a "magnificent project and historic achievement."
"The most compelling signal that African integration is unstoppable, and that it will open doors for unprecedented socioeconomic transformation, is the progress we have made in implementing the Africa Continental Free Trade Area," Ruto said.
Ruto cited figures for the initiative, revealing that the free trade area
is projected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty and boost incomes by 7% by 2035.
The AfCFTA, which entered into force in 2021, is the world's largest free trade agreement in terms of number of countries and population. All 55 states (excluding Eritrea) recognized by the African Union have signed the agreement to join the AfCFTA and 46 states have ratified it.
The Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union was hosted by Kenya's Nairobi on July 16 and this year was held under the theme "Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation."
