President William Ruto defended his decision to attend the Italy-Africa summit on Monday, despite earlier declaring that he and other African leaders would not be summoned by a single country.
In an April 2023 video, President Ruto stated that Africa would hold discussions with other countries as a whole, represented by the African Union.
He questioned the honesty of inviting all African heads of state to a summit and then loading them onto buses like schoolchildren.
Ruto spoke at the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
“It is not intelligent for 54 African Presidents to go and sit before one President from another country for a summit. Sometimes, we are mistreated. We are loaded onto buses like school kids. It is not right,” he stated.
The country’s commander-in-chief urged African presidents to send representatives when invited to events in Western countries.
“The decision we have made as AU is that going forward, if there is going to be a discussion between Africa and any other country, we would send the chair and the bureau, That is the position I am taking as the President of Kenya,” he stated.
I wish President Dr. William Ruto would have been serious on his words of not attending some of these meetings 🤦
Now see how they have been bundled together like beggars waiting to be given handouts 🥴
When these leaders come to Kenya we usually give them red carpets , best… pic.twitter.com/DP62C00IIW
— Sholla 🇰🇪 (@Haaland_sholla) January 29, 2024
This was President Ruto in April 2023 vowing not to be summoned again.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is currently in Paris, just a 2-hour flight from Rome, but he isn’t attending #ItaliaAfrica pic.twitter.com/uua88Wkvz8
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) January 29, 2024
Shortly after the declaration, President Ruto would skip the Russia-Africa summit, at which the continent was represented by the African Union.
However, the president’s decision to attend the Italy-Africa summit sparked speculation among Kenyans online that he was speaking from both sides of his mouth.
President William Ruto said he + other African leaders would not be summoned by 1 country. The African Union would represent them going forward.
He's standing just steps away from both the AU chair & the AU Commission chair in Italy while other East African presidents skipped pic.twitter.com/nEfDe502LO
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) January 29, 2024
In his address to the summit on Monday, President Ruto stated that, despite his previous stance that an invitation extended by one country to all 54 African nations did not always serve Africa’s best interests, Italy had approached the matter pragmatically.
“Those of us present at this conference, representing our colleagues, find it different and inspiring due to the pragmatic approach you, have taken, Madam Prime Minister,” he said.
“Let me begin by appreciating President Sergio Matterella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Government of Italy for convening this Summit.”
According to Ruto, Italy and Africa appeared to be reading from the same script, stating that Africa does not require charity, but rather cooperation that rejects “paternalistic and predatory approaches.”
“This messaging resonates well with us, and we warmly welcome the announcement of the ambitious Mattei Plan, with its cornerstone being energy security for Africa and the Mediterranean nations,” he added.
The so-called Mattei Plan aims to position Italy as a vital link between Africa and Europe, funnelling energy north in exchange for investment in deals aimed at reducing migrant departures across the Mediterranean.
Meloni stated that the plan would initially be funded to the tune of €5.5 billion ($5.9 billion), some of which would be in the form of loans, with investments focused on the energy, agriculture, water, health and education sectors.
Among the African leaders present were the presidents of Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, the Republic of Congo and Somalia.
In all, 45 African states were represented at various levels.
According to a communique issued by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed on Sunday, January 28, Ruto will attend the summit as Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), where he is also expected to deliver an address on energy security.
