President William Ruto has proposed the formation of a high-level panel of experts to review the African Union’s (AU) peace and security architecture.

Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Monday, January 27, 2025, during a high-level retreat on African Union institutional reforms, Ruto emphasized the critical role of peace and stability in Africa’s future development.

“With the resources in food production and many other natural resources, it becomes absolutely necessary that stability, peace and security become a solid cornerstone of the Africa we imagine in the future. It’s absolutely necessary at this point in time, for Africa Union to re-imagine, re-think, re-organize our peace and security architecture,” Ruto said.

The president expressed concern over increasing conflict and terrorism cases in the region, calling for a comprehensive review of the AU’s response mechanisms.

According to Ruto, the proposed panel would examine the continent’s peace and security infrastructure, including envoys and the African Union Commission.

It would also evaluate the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2719, which enables United Nations funding for AU-led peace support operations.

“Africa is a big theatre of conflict and unfortunately terrorism. Our response has been uncoordinated, under-resourced, and not very well planned and therefore we have recommended that a high-level panel interrogate our peace and security infrastructure including the envoys across the continent, the infrastructure around the African Union Commission, the peace and security fund and also the effects of resolution 2719 that now makes it possible for African-led peace efforts to be funded by the United Nations with the resolution of the United Nations Security Council,” he said.

Need to address challenges

Th president warned that without addressing these security challenges, meaningful economic development would remain elusive.

“Unless we deal with the conflict in our continent, the threat and ravaging effects of terrorism in our continent, it will become nearly impossible to undertake any meaningful investment development or economic activity,” he emphasized.

Ruto called for continued political guidance from African heads of state in implementing these reforms, proposing the formation of a dedicated committee under the AU Reform Champion’s leadership.

“I believe execution should continue to be guided at the level of Heads of State and Government. With your concurrence, I shall be proposing to the Assembly the formation of a Committee of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on AU Reforms under the leadership of the Champion,” he concluded.