Kenyan President William Ruto has raised alarm over the devastating impact of conflicts on Africa’s growth, estimating annual losses of $18 billion due to violence and instability across the continent. Speaking at the high-level Extended Bureau Retreat on African Union (AU) Institutional Reforms in Nairobi, Ruto emphasized how conflicts are stifling Africa’s potential while displacing millions of its people.
Ruto outlined the human cost of these conflicts, highlighting that Africa is home to 35 million internally displaced persons, 8.9 million refugees, 1.1 million asylum seekers, and 1 million stateless individuals. He also cited alarming statistics, noting that between April and June 2024 alone, 1,000 terrorism incidents resulted in 4,818 deaths.
The retreat, attended by leaders from Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Ghana, and the Comoros, as well as Moussa Faki, chairperson of the AU Commission, aimed to accelerate reforms in the AU’s 55-member structure. Ruto underscored the inadequacy of the AU’s current security architecture, pointing out its fragmented and under-resourced presence in regional hotspots.
“Africa’s developmental goals are being derailed by destabilising forces,” Ruto stated, reiterating that peace is critical to unlocking the continent’s potential. He called for an urgent revitalization of the AU’s peace and security framework to address the complex dynamics and challenges that threaten Africa’s stability and prosperity.
The Kenyan president’s call to action underscores the pressing need for collective, sustainable solutions to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for Africa.
