Ruto hosts high-profile AU meeting at State House
President William Ruto has held a high-profile meeting with the African Union (AU) top brass, centred on the AU reforms process.
Breaking the news via his Facebook account on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Ruto stated that the reform process of the African Union to make it a fit-for-purpose organisation is gaining momentum amid consultations with various stakeholders.
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“As Champion of the AU Institutional Reforms, a role fellow heads of State privileged me to lead, I have witnessed the commitment of African leaders to making the AU effective, efficient and responsive to issues that the continent holds dear,” he said.
These issues include the AU’s peace and security architecture, financing, governance architecture, making the African Court of Justice operational, and making the Pan-African Parliament effective.
AU reforms take centre stage
The meeting at State House, Nairobi, brought together members of the High-Level Panel of the Wise and the AU Institutional Reforms technical team.
The President highlighted progress made in strengthening the AU’s structures and the importance of collaboration among African leaders to ensure that the union meets its mandate.
“This briefing reaffirmed our shared commitment to making the African Union a responsive and results-driven organisation that addresses the needs of our people,” Ruto added.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review lessons from other regional and international institutions and explore innovative ways to enhance funding and operational efficiency for AU programs.
AU comments on Tanzania vote
The meeting by President William Ruto with AU officials at State House comes just days after the AU observer mission reported that Tanzania’s election did not comply with democratic standards.
“At this preliminary stage, the Mission concludes that the 2025 Tanzania General Elections did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections,” the mission said.
Observers noted ballot stuffing and the absence of political party agents at several polling stations. During the counting, some observers were asked to leave.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote, but the opposition accused the government of fraud and cited hundreds of deaths in protests.
“Tanzania should prioritise electoral and political reforms to address the root causes of its democratic and electoral challenges witnessed ahead of, during, and after last week’s elections,” the AU mission added.
The AU called for urgent reforms to ensure free, fair, and credible elections across the continent.
