President William Ruto has renewed calls for Africa to be fully included in reforms of international financial and governance institutions, saying the current global system must be made fairer, more democratic and more representative.
Speaking during a media interview in Evian, France, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on Tuesday, president Ruto said Africa was seeking equal treatment in global decision-making, not special consideration.
“We are not asking for special treatment as Africa, but there must be equal treatment,” he said.
The president said institutions such as the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank must be reformed to reflect current global realities and serve all nations fairly.
He noted that many of the existing global governance and financial systems were established after the Second World War in 1945, at a time when Africa was largely excluded from the negotiating table.
“As the African continent, we need a new paradigm shift with our partners. We need a new relationship and a new engagement,” president Ruto said.
He argued that Africa is no longer a passive observer in global affairs, but an active participant in shaping new systems of cooperation, development and economic growth.
The president said the international system must evolve to promote fairness, inclusivity and shared responsibility. He warned that fragmented responses to global challenges would only deepen instability and undermine collective progress.
President Ruto said the G7 meeting offered Africa an opportunity to have an honest and direct conversation with global partners on institutional reforms, including changes at the United Nations.
“This meeting will be an opportunity for Africa to have a forthright and candid conversation with our partners,” he said.
He added that the United Nations must be led by a reform-minded leadership capable of responding to the demands of a changing world.
“The UN must not be run by an administrator but by a reformer,” he said.
President Ruto also called for increased African representation in global organizations, saying the continent’s growing influence, population and resources make its participation essential in shaping the future global order.
He described Africa as a major asset to global prosperity, citing its vast natural resources, minerals, arable land and largely untapped renewable energy potential.
The president said Africa’s demographic growth also presents major economic opportunities for the world. By 2050, he said, 40 per cent of the world’s workforce will be in Africa, while 25 per cent of the global population will be living on the continent.
He said this means Africa will provide not only labour, but also a major market for goods, services and investment.
President Ruto identified three priority areas that must be addressed to unlock Africa’s potential.
First, he said African countries must have access to concessional development financing to support investment in key sectors.
Second, he criticized the high cost of borrowing faced by African countries, saying the continent pays significantly higher interest rates compared to other economies.
“We must also sort out the problem of global rating agencies exaggerating Africa’s risk yet the continent is not as risky as they want the world to believe,” he said.
Finally, president Ruto said Africa must be part of global conversations on technology, including artificial intelligence, and how emerging innovations can be used to drive economic transformation.
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