President William Ruto on Sunday proposed that the African Union (AU) adopt Haiti as Africa’s sixth region while speaking on the sidelines of the 38th Ordinary Assembly of the regional body in Ethiopia.
In a statement issued by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, Ruto called for the adoption of a Draft Declaration on AU Solidarity with Haiti during the AU Assembly.
He urged AU leaders to formally recognise Haiti’s status as a sixth region, emphasising the need for sustained support for Kenya’s peacekeeping mission in the Caribbean country.
According to the President, the adoption of Haiti would also help support the calls for a full transition of Multinational Security Support (MSS) into a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
President William Ruto chairing the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
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”President William Ruto proposes the adoption of a Draft Declaration on AU Solidarity with Haiti at the AU Assembly, to affirm its status as part of Africa’s Sixth Region and ensure sustained support for the mission, including advocating for a transition of the MSS into a UN Peacekeeping Operation,” Mohammed shared in the statement.
Kenya deployed its first contingent of security forces to Haiti on June 25, 2024, as part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to help salvage the gang violence that had rocked the Caribbean nation.
With an initial deployment of over 400 officers, the number of Kenyan elite units in Haiti has reached over 600 officers with the latest deployment featuring an all-female Special Weapons and Tactics(SWAT) team.
Meanwhile, the Head of State submitted a report to the AU heads proposing an Oversight Committee of Heads of State and an African Court of Justice operationalisation.
”The African Court of Justice is a crucial pillar of our governance architecture, yet its implementation has stalled since 2009 due to discussions on merging it with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. I propose that this Assembly mandates the AUC and PRC to finalize the Court’s operational requirements, including budgetary provisions, and that the Executive Council conduct judicial elections during its Ordinary Session in July 2025,” Ruto told the summit.
Further, Ruto called for urgent ratification of amendments to the Pan-African Parliament Protocol, and reform to AU peace and security architecture to improve response to conflicts.
”There is a need for the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to evolve from a symbolic entity into a legislative force,” Ruto urged.
”So far, only 15 Member States have ratified the Malabo Protocol, which seeks to grant the Pan-African Parliament permanent membership and legislative authority. I urge this Assembly to mobilize political support to accelerate the ratification process,” he added.
”President William Ruto as the Champion for AU institutional reform, submits reform report, proposing an Oversight Committee of Heads of States, African Court of Justice operationalization, urgent ratification of amendments to the Pan-African Parliament Protocol, and reform to AU peace and security architecture to improve response to conflicts,” a statement from State House Spokesperson added.
President William Ruto addresses the African Union General Assembly of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change in Addis Ababa on February 18, 2024.
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