Ruto urges equal respect for territorial integrity at Russia–Africa summit

By  Mercy Simiyu

Correspondent

President William Ruto has called for all nations, regardless of their power or influence, to uphold national sovereignty, respect territorial integrity and settle international disputes peacefully.

Speaking at the Third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow on Thursday, October 29, President Ruto told African leaders, and his host, Russian President Vladimir Putin, that international relations must be anchored in mutual respect rather than competing spheres of influence.

“The principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of disputes must apply consistently to every nation. Let this Summit advance a Russia-Africa partnership founded on sovereign equality, productive investment, technological cooperation, and shared prosperity,” President Ruto said.

Dr Ruto maintained that the international order must recognise the equality of nations, rejecting arrangements in which powerful countries exercise disproportionate influence over others.

“Kenya believes that international relations must be guided not by the power of nations, but by the equality of their sovereignty; not by competing spheres of influence, but by mutual respect; and not by the pursuit of narrow advantage, but by cooperation that advances our common humanity,” he said.

The President also renewed calls for reforms to the United Nations Security Council, arguing that Africa's continued exclusion from permanent membership was inconsistent with the continent's population and growing role in international affairs.

He said global governance structures must reflect present-day realities rather than arrangements established following the Second World War.

“These reforms are inseparable from the wider question of global governance. The international order must reflect the world as it is today, not the world as it was in 1945,” said President Ruto.

“Africa, with 1.4 billion people and 54 nations, cannot continue without permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council. We reaffirm the African Common Position calling for permanent seats, with all the rights and privileges of permanent membership,” he added.

He reaffirmed Kenya's support for the African Common Position, which calls for permanent seats for the continent with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by existing permanent members.

Beyond global governance, Ruto called for a fundamental shift in Africa's economic relationship with Russia and other international partners, saying the continent must move away from exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

“Africa cannot continue to be a supplier of raw materials and a consumer of finished products. We now must become a continent that manufactures, innovates, adds value, and competes in the global economy,” he said.

He invited Russia to invest in African industries, transfer technology, develop technical skills and create employment opportunities, arguing that international partnerships should strengthen the continent's productive capacity.

Through the African Continental Free Trade Area, Ruto said, the continent was integrating a market of 1.4 billion people that could support competitive industries, regional value chains and expanded investment.

Agriculture was among the areas he identified for immediate cooperation, with Kenya and other African countries seeking affordable fertilisers, local fertiliser manufacturing, agricultural mechanisation, irrigation technology, research and agro-processing.

“Our goal is not merely to import more agricultural inputs, but to build the capacity to produce them locally and strengthen food security across our continent,” he said.

Ruto also called for greater cooperation in energy infrastructure, engineering, mineral processing and manufacturing, emphasising investments that transfer technical expertise and help African businesses compete in regional and global markets.

On climate change, he said Africa was bearing a disproportionate burden through droughts, floods, food insecurity and infrastructure damage despite contributing relatively little to historical greenhouse gas emissions.

He cited Kenya’s investment in renewable electricity, geothermal energy, green manufacturing and climate-resilient infrastructure, while calling for more affordable climate finance ahead of the COP31 climate summit.

Ruto further called for stronger Russia–Africa cooperation in education, technical training, scientific research, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, saying young Africans should develop the technologies and industries that shape the continent’s future.

Financing reforms 

He also identified healthcare, pharmaceutical research and local vaccine manufacturing as priority areas, arguing that Africa needed greater capacity to produce essential medicines and medical technologies.

On financing, the President called for reforms to the international financial architecture to provide developing countries with affordable, long-term capital for infrastructure, industrialisation and climate-related investments.

“Without fundamental reform of the international financial architecture. Our countries face some of the enormous infrastructure, industrialisation, and climate-financing needs,” said Dr Ruto.

He backed reforms to improve debt sustainability, expand development finance and attract private investment, saying Africa needed to move away from a model that perpetuates indebtedness towards one that supports productivity and economic growth.

Ruto challenged the summit to turn its commitments into measurable results, saying the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan for 2027–2029 should deliver investments, industries, research partnerships and opportunities that improve people’s lives.

He said Africa wanted to participate meaningfully in shaping global decisions and compete in production, rather than remain a beneficiary of international cooperation.