Kenyan President William Ruto’s recent speech at the Pan African Parliament in South Africa has caused a stir. Ruto spoke passionately about the need for African leaders to be treated with respect at international meetings, highlighting the fact that they are often treated like “school children.”
He pointed out that it is not right for a single leader from a developed country to summon over 50 African Heads of State for a meeting that is unlikely to achieve any meaningful results. Ruto called on the African Union Commission to represent the continent instead of having dozens of Presidents attend meetings where they are given a minute or so to speak.
These are valid points, and it’s time for African leaders to demand the respect they deserve. At the same time, however, there is a need to start somewhere. In 2016, African Heads of State adopted what has been called the Kigali Decision on Financing the Union. This includes the establishment of a 0.2% levy on eligible imports from member states, which would enable the African Union to finance itself in the long term.
Seven years later, the commission still relies on donor funding, with more than 40% of Member States failing to pay their annual contributions. As a result, Africa is still forced to rely on the same countries that summon its leaders to meetings and lecture them. These countries meet Africa’s finance needs, including the crucial peace and security component. But they, too, rely on donor funding to finance their domestic budgets.
The solution is the financial independence of the African Union, and this can only be achieved if the Kigali Decisions are implemented as planned. Africans also need to continue to look inwards for solutions to challenges faced and available opportunities. The full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is an excellent example of this. Once fully implemented, it will make the continent the largest trading bloc globally.
Africa has many solutions to make itself relevant globally, but what’s still lacking is the political class’s goodwill to implement the decisions taken. Ruto’s speech has started a much-needed debate that could result in a more meaningful role for Africa on the global stage.
