Ruto jets out to Tanzania for food security summit
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, September 7, 2023
President William Ruto left the country on Thursday, September 7 to attend the 13th Africa Food Systems Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Confirming the visit, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said several other Heads of State and government would be attending the summit to discuss food security.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed confirmed the visit in a statement on Thursday morning.
“President @williamsruto among other Heads of State and Government attending the 13th Africa Food Systems Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania today to discuss crucial issues of food security, sustainability, and innovation,” Mohamed said.
The summit kicked off on Monday, September 4 and is scheduled to close tomorrow.
The forum brings together stakeholder groups in the food systems landscapes, including senior government and political officials, policymakers, scientists, private institutions, farmers, and the youth.
This year’s summit themed, “Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation,” aims at facilitating discussions and agreements on practical actions and solutions that drive Africa’s food security efforts and better livelihoods for all.
According to the event organisers, more than 350 speakers and 3,000 attendees from over 70 countries are expected to participate.
Climate Summit
President Ruto’s visit to Tanzania comes a day after curtains came down on the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023 hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The three-day event ended with a call for world leaders to act with urgency in reducing emissions, fulfilling its obligations, keep past promises and supporting the continent in addressing climate change effects.
The leaders urged the international community to back global taxes to fund climate action.
“We demand a fair playing ground for our countries to access the investments needed to unlock the potential and translate it into opportunities.
“We further demand a just multilateral development finance architecture, to liberate our economies from odious debt and onerous barriers to necessary financial resources,” the leaders said in a final statement dubbed: The Nairobi Declaration read by President Ruto at Kenyatta.
The leaders also demanded that the global community commit to uphold commitments to a fair and accelerated process of phasing down coal and abolishment of all fossil fuel subsidies.
“Swiftly operationalise the Loss and Damage facility agreed at COP27,” they demanded.