Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Kenyan colleague William Ruto conducted key talks Sunday in Nairobi during the African Union’s fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.
The two presidents discussed different African concerns, with a major focus on settling the Sudan situation and strengthening African peace.
During the meeting, al-Sisi and Ruto discussed ongoing efforts to coordinate activities aimed at resolving the Sudan conflict, which has killed hundreds and injured or displaced many others.
They discussed the relevance of Sudan’s Neighbouring Countries Summit, which was held on July 13 in Egypt.
Both leaders affirmed their support for this endeavour and their willingness to work together to address Sudan’s strife and suffering.
The conversation also touched on bigger regional issues, such as the situation in the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin.
Al-Sisi and Ruto emphasised the importance of working together to address these regions’ difficulties and ensure stability and progress.
Al-Sisi and Ruto emphasised the importance of continental integration and the need for improved collaboration between the African Union, regional economic communities, regional mechanisms, and member states, in line with the objectives of the ongoing African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.
Ruto stated his intention to promote peace and stability throughout Africa.
“Strong Kenya-Egypt ties are advantageous in the pursuit of a more united and prosperous Africa.” “We will work with other countries to end conflict and suffering in Sudan and across Africa,” he said.
Restructuring the African Union
Ruto emphasised the possibilities of a more integrated, wealthy, and stable Africa, driven by its own people, leaders, and resources, during his speech at the summit.
He proposed African Union reform as a starting point, expressing sorrow that the continent still relies largely on external support after more than five decades of independence.
Ruto argued vehemently that more than 60% of African Union programmes should not be funded by foreign partners.
“We must free the AU from constraints so that it can pursue urgent and critical interventions on the continent with resources generated internally,” he said.
The African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting continues to bring together African leaders and stakeholders to assess progress, identify difficulties, and work on ways to advance the continent’s integration agenda.