Kenyan President Ruto Demands Respect For African Leaders in International Proceedings.

Ruto demands respect for African leaders after US-Africa Summit group meetings with Biden and Blinken, says they are often mistreated and treated like school kids by other world leaders.

Kenyan President William Ruto has emphasized that African leaders should be respected on the global stage and not be treated as children by world leaders. Speaking at the 2023 IGW African Leadership Ceremony with Mo Ibrahim, President Ruto stressed that African leaders are elected by their people and deserve the same level of respect as leaders from any other part of the world.

The President referred to his attendance at the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC with President Joseph R. Biden last December. During the summit, 50 African leaders were present but were unable to have a one-on-one meeting with President Biden. President Ruto criticized these types of arrangements where African presidents travel the world to meet with the leader of one country, stating that it was unfair.

“There is a debate that is going to evolve,’’ said Ruto. ‘‘Like for example, we have also decided that it will not be business as usual. We have these meetings Africa-US Meeting, Africa-Europe, Africa -Turkey, Africa-India, Africa-Russia, and Africa-Japan.’’

Several Africans feel the same way as the Kenyans, represented by their president. It is very difficult to feel like an equal partner in trade negotiations when a country has to negotiate with a continent of 54 countries, and their leaders have to move to the said country, but cannot even be received by Joe Biden for a talk.

Ruto also highlighted the importance of African Unity against external adversity. Over the past years, there is a general feeling that everyone else is against a united Africa, in especially economically and politically. By asserting their right to be treated as equal partners, African leaders are sending a message that they will not be pushed around or dictated to by more powerful nations. Ruto took example from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Market, where he expressed his satisfaction at the quick assembly and ratifications which occurred in a little amount of time, exemplifying the fact that when we come together, without external interference, we can get things done for the benefit of the continent.

Ruto was bitter while mentioning the treatment of African leaders who came to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II after passing of the British monarch, which was highly controversial around the world due the country’s long history of colonialism, and the crown being a living symbol of it.

“We have made the decision that it is not intelligent for 54 of us to go and sit before one gentleman from another place. And sometimes we are mistreated. We are loaded into buses like school kids. It’s not right. It’s not right. So the decision that we have made as AU is that going forward, if there is going to be a discussion between Africa and any other country, we are going to be represented by the chair (of the African Union Commission).”

This decision is unprecedented, and it brings out a level of assertiveness that might be instrumental in shifting the balance of power in international relations towards African leaders, which will lead to greater respect for their sovereignty and independence.

However, there is some skepticism from the Africans on social media, who feel highly disconnected from their leaders, and don’t always feel represented by them. These resolutions might be taken, but in the next US-Africa summit, Africans fear some leaders might still go attend these illogical meetings, then later complain of maltreatment, when they set themselves up in that position in the first place. The burning question on many tongues has always been to know why summits on African interests are held out of Africa, like this was the 1884 Berlin West African Conference, except this time, African leaders are enabling it.

With that in mind, Africans welcome the change, but will be very watchful and critical about the implementation of these new measure, meant to boost the bargaining power of Africans on the international stage.