Ruto Succeeds Kagame as AU Champion

Ruto Succeeds Kagame as AU Champion

Ruto Succeeds Kagame as AU Champion

On Saturday, February 17, President William Ruto was named the African Union’s Champion for Institutional Reform.Ruto will take up the position from his Rwandese colleague Paul Kagame, who will resign from it after seven years in office.

In addition to leading politics, his responsibilities include finishing the extensive Institutional Reform project.Ruto was further assigned by the AU’s Assembly of Heads of State and Government to revitalize the goals, objectives, and structure of the union’s bodies, particularly the African Union Commission, which Raila Odinga of Azimio hopes to lead.

The role was created in 2016 after African leaders saw the need to drive institutional reforms to achieve economic growth and development.AU members subsequently appointed Kagame to lead the process and ensure agencies become more effective in managing AU’s programmes.

“The AU Reform Agenda must therefore be a priority and we must interrogate and conduct the process to ensure that structurally, the roles of the bureau, summits, committees, regional caucuses, secretariat and commission are duly rationalised to give Africa a fit-for-purpose continental governance body with the capacity to engage globally,” he stated.

In order to benefit the continent, President Ruto asked other African leaders to delegate authority to the AU Commission on issues of commerce and regional and international security.

Earlier this week, Ruto held talks with Kagame on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, where he emphasised the bilateral ties between the two countries. “Discussed investment opportunities between our countries as well as regional peace and security,” the president stated.

On Friday, February 16, Ruto took a plane to Ethiopia to attend the Heads of State and Government of the AU Summit. He will speak on issues pertaining to plans for resolving Africa’s education crisis during the summit.Hussein Mohamed, a spokesman for the State House, said in a statement, “Building resilient education systems for Africa’s 21st century human capital is the summit’s theme.”