President William Ruto Speaking before African and European leaders in Luanda, Angola. Photo by PPS 
By Andrew Mbuva
President William Ruto has issued a powerful call for a new era of equal partnership between Africa and Europe, telling the 7th AU–EU Summit in Luanda, Angola, that the continent “comes not with empty hands, but with open ones offering partnership, innovation, and opportunity.”
Speaking before African and European leaders, Ruto said Africa is no longer a passive actor in global affairs, insisting that the world has shifted from a unipolar and bipolar order into a contested multipolar reality — one in which African voices must be at the centre.
“Africa stands not at the periphery of the future, but at its very centre,” he said, urging both continents to “decide not how to revisit the past, but how to reinvent the future.”
Ruto sharply criticised the longstanding charity-based nature of Europe–Africa relations, remarking that such a mindset cannot solve Africa’s complex development challenges.
“For too long, our partnership has been spoken of in the language of charity and conditionality. Yet charity will not solve Africa’s challenges.”
He framed Africa as a continent of innovators — from software developers in Nairobi to digital farmers in Kampala — whose ambitions require genuine partnership rather than paternalistic engagement.
In one of his strongest appeals, Ruto called on Europe to support reform of the UN Security Council to reflect the realities of the 21st century instead of the post-World War II era.
“We must reform the United Nations Security Council to reflect the world as it is, not as it was in 1945.”
He emphasised Africa and Europe must stand “shoulder to shoulder” to defend a rules-based international order and reject emerging global power blocs that threaten global stability.
Ruto praised the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), calling it one of the most significant economic integration projects since the creation of the European Union.
He urged Europe to view Africa’s integrated market not as competition but as an opportunity for mutual growth, insisting that Europe’s investment should prioritise manufacturing and value addition on African soil.
“Let us move away from extractive partnerships to productive partnerships, from exporting raw materials to exporting innovation and products.”
Ruto pressed Europe to act urgently on climate adaptation financing, saying Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions yet suffers the harshest consequences.
He further challenged European states to reimagine migration as a driver of shared prosperity rather than crisis: “Migration should not drain Africa’s talent; it should circulate it.”
On digital transformation, the President called for an AU–EU digital alliance that marries African creativity with European regulatory expertise to expand jobs and protect data.
Ruto warned that illicit financial flows continue to rob African countries of development resources, undermining public trust and weakening the social contract between governments and citizens.
He urged stronger global tax cooperation, saying Africa needs reliable domestic resource mobilisation to close its annual financing gap, estimated at over USD 402 billion. “Africa Is Ready — The Question Is Whether We Are Ready Together”
Closing his address, Ruto told leaders that trust, fairness, and equality must anchor AU–EU relations going forward. “Africa asks only for fairness — for a seat at the table, not a place on the menu.”
He urged the summit to mark a historic turning point toward genuine equality, shared prosperity, and decisive action. “Africa is ready. The question is whether we are ready together?”
