President William Ruto’s aide Emmanuel Talam has picked issues with CNN journalist Larry Madowo for criticising the President over his trip to Italy.
Ruto left the country on Sunday, January 28, 2024, to attend the Italy-Africa Summit alongside other African presidents.
Madowo took issues with Ruto attending the Summit alongside other African presidents, despite a vow he made in April 2023 that Africa would hold discussions with other countries as a whole, represented by the African Union (AU).
“President William Ruto said he and other African leaders would not be summoned by one 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,” Madowo said.
President William Ruto said he + other African leaders would not be summoned by 1 country. The African Union would represent them going forward.
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) January 29, 2024
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
Speaking in April 2023 during the Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW) forum, Ruto said the 54 African heads of state had agreed that any discussion that involved Africa would be held on a representational basis.
“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 are going to be represented by the chair and the bureau. That is the position I am taking as the President of Kenya,” Ruto said in 2023.
“We respect the sovereignty of other countries and I think to ask for reciprocation would not be to ask for too much. If we don’t respect ourselves nobody is going to respect us.”
Following Madowo’s criticism, Ruto’s press secretary took issues with the journalist accusing him of ignoring the President’s speech, where he addressed the issue.
“Create time to read the President’s speech. Basic journalism,” Talam told Madowo.
In response, Madowo stated, “You don’t have the range to lecture me about journalism” and later added, “Out here doing the Lord’s work.”
In his introductory remarks during the Africa-Italy Summit, Ruto criticised the issue of one country “summoning” 54 African states.
“I have previously noted that an invitation extended by one country to all 54 African nations did not necessarily serve Africa’s best interests. But those of us present at this conference, representing our colleagues, find it different and inspiring due to the pragmatic approach you, have taken,” he stated.
Among the presidents who attended the Italy-Africa Summit were those of Tunisia, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia, with a total of 45 African states represented at various levels.
Ruto snubs Russia-Africa Summit
In July 2023, Ruto snubbed the Russia-Africa Summit, opting to be represented by the AU leadership, according to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.
“President William Ruto will not be personally attending the Russia-Africa summit; instead, he will be represented by organs of the Africa Union. This decision aligns with the stance of African Heads of State and Government, who believe that for Africa to engage in meaningful discussions with global partners, partnership summits organised by external parties need to be reviewed to establish an effective framework for African Union partnerships,” Mohamed said on July 26, 2023.
