President William Ruto has called for a new model of Africa and Europe collaboration.
Speaking during the seventh African Union- European Union summit in Luanda, Angola, President Ruto regretted the current partnership model, which he said looks like charity and comes with conditions, with Africa placed at the lower level.
He highlighted Africa’s immense natural resources, restless youthful energy and a large and growing market vis-à-vis Europe’s enormous capital, modern technology, and mature institutions.
With this, President Ruto insisted that Africa does not come to the negotiating table empty-handed. In fact, he said the two continents are equals and so should forge a partnership based on equality.
"For too long, our partnership has been spoken of in the language of charity and conditionality. Yet charity will not solve Africa’s challenges. Africa holds immense natural resources, restless youthful energy and a large and growing market. Europe holds enormous capital, modern technology, and mature institutions. Each has what the other needs. We are not two continents facing each other. We are two halves of a single horizon.We come to this Summit not with empty hands, but with open ones offering partnership, innovation, and opportunity. Because our destinies are intertwined, we come as equals. Yes, we remember the past. But we are not prisoners of it. We are architects and builders of the future," said President Ruto.In his proposed new partnership, President Ruto called for revamped multilateralism. He vouched for a rules-based international order that treats every nation with dignity, reiterating the need to reform the United Nations Security Council.
He also called for the deepening of regional economic integration, beginning with the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Thirdly, he called for joint and just climate change action, noting that Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, yet it pays the highest price.
