Uhuru warns trust deficit is Africa’s biggest threat to peace efforts
By Faith Lagat, May 5, 2026Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned that a deepening trust deficit between governments and citizens, and among communities, remains Africa’s most significant challenge to peace and development.
Speaking during the “Statesmen in Dialogue: Leadership and Dispute Resolution in Africa” panel at the 2026 Johannesburg Arbitration Week in South Africa, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Kenyatta said sustaining peace agreements has become difficult due to lack of trust.
He noted that while mediation processes often result in signed agreements, implementation and long-term stability remain constrained when trust is weak among parties involved in conflict resolution.
Drawing from his mediation engagements in South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenyatta said trust remains central to achieving lasting peace outcomes in conflict situations.
“Unity is not just an ideal, it is a necessity,” Kenyatta said during the session.
Governance and unity in conflict resolution
Kenyatta stated that governance, inclusion, and equitable distribution of resources are key elements in addressing conflicts across the continent. He said these factors determine the success of reconciliation and peace-building processes.
He further observed that fragmentation within continental institutions has weakened the unity that characterised early Pan-African efforts. He called for renewed cohesion among African states and institutions in addressing shared challenges.
Arbitration forum and continental engagements
The three-day Johannesburg Arbitration Week, hosted by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), runs from May 5 to May 7, 2026, and brings together arbitrators, judges, former heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, and academics.
The forum is held under the theme “Arbitration in a Fragmented Global Order: The Future of Trade, Investment, and Sustainable Development.”
Discussions at the forum focus on geopolitical shifts, sanctions, trade blocs such as BRICS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), technological changes, and enforcement challenges in dispute resolution.
Other participants include former Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.
AFSA Chief Executive Officer Andile Nikani said the forum supports efforts to strengthen Johannesburg’s position as a continental arbitration hub.
Kenyatta has also remained engaged in regional peace initiatives, including supporting dialogue efforts in the Great Lakes region under African Union and East African Community-led processes.