President William Ruto has spearheaded a renewed drive for institutional reforms within the African Union (AU), urging member states to recommit to the continental body’s long-term development agenda.
The high-level meeting, held in Nairobi, brought together members of the AU High-Level Panel on Governance, Peace and Security, and the High Representative on Financing the Union. Participants reviewed progress on ongoing reforms and adopted recommendations aimed at strengthening the AU’s governance, peace, and security frameworks.
Ruto, who serves as the AU Champion for Institutional Reforms, received a consolidated report highlighting priority areas to inform discussions at the upcoming Special Summit on African Union Reforms, scheduled for November 26, 2025, in Luanda, Angola.
Key recommendations from the Nairobi meeting include enhancing Africa’s global positioning, revitalizing Pan-Africanism, securing sustainable and predictable financing, and streamlining the AU Assembly’s agenda and decision-making processes. Participants also proposed clearer categorization of Assembly and Executive Council decisions to align with AU Rules of Procedure.
The meeting underscored the need to revitalize the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), essential frameworks for tackling complex peace and security challenges across the continent. Priority areas for urgent action include operationalizing the African Court of Justice, strengthening peace and security mechanisms, ensuring transparent financing, and improving coordination in implementing AU decisions.
Conceived under Ruto’s leadership, these reforms aim to strengthen governance structures, improve decision-making efficiency, and enhance the effectiveness of continental organs such as the Pan-African Parliament and the African Court of Justice.
The initiative aligns with Agenda 2063, the AU’s 50-year blueprint for Africa’s transformation, which envisions inclusive economic growth, regional integration, good governance, peace and security, and a globally resilient Africa.
The Nairobi retreat reinforces that institutional reform is crucial for a responsive, efficient, and forward-looking African Union capable of delivering on the shared vision of “The Africa We Want.”
