Two heads of state engage in fruitful discussions during African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Nairobi
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto held crucial discussions Sunday in Nairobi during the fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union. The two leaders exchanged views on various African issues, with a primary focus on resolving the crisis in Sudan and fostering peace in Africa. During the meeting, al-Sisi and Ruto reviewed ongoing efforts to coordinate initiatives aimed at settling the Sudan crisis, which has left hundreds dead and many injured or displaced. They discussed the significance of Sudan's Neighboring Countries Summit, which took place in Egypt on July 13. Both leaders expressed their commitment to supporting this initiative and working collaboratively to address the conflict and suffering in Sudan. The discussion also encompassed broader regional concerns, including the situation in the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin regions. Al-Sisi and Ruto emphasized the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges faced by these regions and ensure stability and progress. In alignment with the ongoing African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting's objectives, al-Sisi and Ruto underscored the importance of continental integration and the need for enhanced collaboration between the African Union, regional economic communities, regional mechanisms and member states. Ruto expressed his commitment to promoting peace and stability across Africa.
"Strong Kenya-Egypt relations are beneficial for the pursuit of a more united and prosperous Africa. Together with other countries, we will work to end conflict and suffering in the Sudan and across Africa," he said. -Reforming the African Union While speaking at the summit, Ruto emphasized the possibility of a more integrated, prosperous and stable Africa, driven by its own people, leaders and resources. He called for the reform of the African Union as a starting point, expressing regret that the continent still relies heavily on external funding after over five decades of independence. Ruto firmly argued that it was unjustifiable for more than 60% of African Union programs to rely on funding from foreign partners. “We must free the AU from constraints so that it can pursue urgent and critical interventions in the continent using internally-generated resources,” he said. The African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting continues to gather leaders and stakeholders from across Africa, serving as a platform to assess progress, identify challenges, and collaborate on strategies to advance the continent's integration agenda.
