“Not fit to lead Africa’s future” William Ruto criticizes AU

Kenyan President William Ruto has delivered a critique of the African Union, questioning its ability to effectively respond to the growing challenges facing the continent. Speaking at the Mshariki Cooperation Conference, Ruto expressed concern over what he described as the union’s inadequate leadership and slow response to pressing regional and global issues affecting African nations.

“I can tell you without an iota of doubt that the African Union, as it is today, is not fit to provide the leadership that this continent needs going into the future,” Ruto said. He stressed the “need for reforms of the African Union.” President Ruto further noted that despite the clear necessity for change, there remains significant “resistance within the union” to implementing meaningful reforms.

Criticism of the continental body is not new. Over the past decade, concerns about its effectiveness have grown. The organization, which is mandated to promote peace, security, and democratic governance across the continent, has increasingly been viewed as struggling to fulfill these responsibilities. While the AU has maintained a visible presence, its ability to respond decisively to democratic backsliding and conflicts across the continent has been widely questioned.

In the past five years alone, West Africa has experienced a wave of military coups. Beginning in Mali, the 2020 Malian coup d'état saw President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta overthrown by the military, followed by a second coup that consolidated military control. In Guinea, the Guinean coup d'état removed President Alpha Condé after he controversially amended the constitution to extend his rule. Mamady Doumbouya has now consolidated his power. Burkina Faso experienced two coups in rapid succession. Similarly, the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état shocked the region when President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed, despite Niger previously being seen as a relatively stable democracy. In Gabon, After leading the 2023 coup that ended decades of Bongo family rule, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema rose from a little-known military figure to become Gabon’s president, winning over 90% in a post-coup election.

Although many of these coups were initially justified by their leaders as corrective and revolutionary actions aimed at addressing corruption and insecurity, several military regimes have since signaled intentions to remain in power, often framing democratic governance as incompatible with local realities. Ibrahim Traoré, the self-styled revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso, recently made this position explicit. “Let’s speak the truth; democracy is not for us,” Traoré told Sky News. “Democracy kills. That’s democracy.”

Alongside these coups, elections across parts of Africa have also drawn criticism for undermining democratic norms under the watch of the continental body. In Tanzania, recent elections were widely criticized for irregularities, suppression of opposition voices, and restrictions on media and civil society. In Cameroon, President Paul Biya has maintained power for over four decades. Uganda’s elections saw President Yoweri Museveni extend his long rule, forcing opposition leader Bobi Wine into exile. Most recently, in Djibouti, elections have continued to reinforce the dominance of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, with limited political space for genuine opposition. These electoral processes, while formally conducted, often fail to meet meaningful democratic standards, contributing to a broader perception of democratic decline.

At the same time, the security landscape across the continent has deteriorated, particularly in the Sahel region. Transnational terrorist groups linked to organizations such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have expanded their operations across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, exploiting weak state control and local grievances. These groups have carried out attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure, creating widespread insecurity and displacing tens of thousands. Despite regional and international efforts, including missions supported by the African Union, the spread of these insurgencies has proven difficult to contain.

One of the most devastating ongoing conflicts is the war in Sudan, which erupted in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has led to widespread destruction, mass displacement, and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis of immense proportions. There have been documented indications of intentional harm against civilians, with reports suggesting acts of ethnic cleansing. In some cases, observers have raised concerns that elements of genocide may be taking place. The continental body has struggled, both previously and in the present, to decisively address the conflict, bring the warring factions together, and end a violent war that has now taken on increasingly international dimensions.

Ruto’s remarks reflect growing dissatisfaction with the continental organization. They also highlight concerns about the organization ability to respond to a rapidly changing and increasingly unstable continent.