Ruto's Italy trip: G7 endorses Africa's push for financial reform

Taking to social media platform X on Sunday, where he also revealed that the Head of State was on his way home from Italy, Mohamed stated that the pledge includes support for initiatives such as the G20 Compact with Africa and the Paris Pact for People and Planet, which aim to boost development, climate solutions, and private sector investment for Kenya, Africa, and the Global South.

He stated that these developments demonstrated Ruto's global respect from his peers at the G7 Summit.

In some of the photos provided by State House, President Ruto, the only African leader at the summit, was seen posing for a photo with France's Macron and the United States' Biden.

Ruto, who recently attended the G7 Summit in Brindisi, Puglia, southern Italy, emphasized the importance of engaging African countries in addressing global challenges.

The summit, which included leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, focused on critical issues of international cooperation.

In his speech, President Ruto emphasised Africa's potential for green industrialization, the digital revolution, and innovation, citing the continent's vast renewable energy resources as a way for developed countries to meet their Net Zero targets by 2050. He also emphasised the need for AU reforms to improve trade, development, peace, stability, and global participation.

 “The current international financial architecture is faulty and unfair, and must be fixed,” Ruto stated, highlighting how it neglects the interests of developing countries.

Several notable figures attended the summit, including Presidents Joe Biden (USA), Mohammed bin Zayed (UAE), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey), and African leaders. International organisations represented included the United Nations, African Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and OECD.

The support is a significant step towards building a more inclusive and equitable international financial system that addresses global challenges through collective action and shared values.