Kenyan President William Ruto has called for stronger African representation in global political and financial institutions, saying the current system no longer reflects today’s world…reports Africa Daily News Desk
Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto has called for stronger African representation in global political and financial institutions, arguing that the continent’s growing population and economic potential are not adequately reflected in international decision making.
Ruto said Africa’s 54 countries account for almost a quarter of the United Nations membership and its population represents about one fifth of humanity. Yet the continent has no permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The UN has also acknowledged Africa’s lack of permanent representation on the Council and its limited influence within international financial institutions.
“That imbalance might have reflected the world of 1945; it does not reflect the world of today,” Ruto said, calling for reforms that would give Africa equitable and permanent representation on the Security Council, including the privileges attached to permanent membership.
He linked political representation with reform of the global financial system, saying the two issues should not be treated separately.
“Political reform and financial reform are not separate projects,” he said. “Rather, they ask the same question: do global institutions reflect sovereign equality? Or do they preserve inequalities which go back to another era.”
Ruto also highlighted the financial pressures facing developing countries, pointing to the burden of debt servicing and the resources that could otherwise be directed towards development.
He said education should be regarded as “the infrastructure of opportunity”, arguing that greater investment in human capital would be crucial to Africa’s development.
The Kenyan president also emphasised the continent’s economic potential, pointing to its mineral wealth, agricultural capacity, renewable energy resources and young population.
“Africa does not come to plead; we come to propose,” he said.
Ruto pointed to developments in sectors including cocoa, cotton and energy as evidence of Africa’s potential to increase value addition and strengthen domestic production. He also called for the African Continental Free Trade Area to become a platform for expanding intra African manufacturing and reducing dependence on imports.
Kenya, he said, was preparing to break ground on a $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu that would serve East Africa.
Ruto framed the push for greater representation and financial reform as part of a broader effort to build stronger African economies rather than seek preferential treatment.
“This is not a plea for special treatment. It is a proposition for shared prosperity,” he said.
He argued that a more industrialised, food secure, better connected and financially self reliant Africa would be better positioned to contribute to the global economy and act as a stronger partner to other regions.
The call comes amid wider international discussions about reforming the global financial architecture. UN officials have similarly argued that Africa remains underrepresented in institutions that shape global economic decisions, including those governing development finance and debt.
