President William addresses the 7th African Union-European Union Summit, Luanda, Angola, November 25, 2025. /PCSPresident William Ruto has urged African Union member states to speed up implementation of reform agendas that do not require financial resources, saying delays rooted in cost concerns are unnecessary and harmful to the institution’s effectiveness.
Speaking Tuesday while chairing the African Union Institutional Reform Ad Hoc Committee Meeting of Heads of State in Luanda, Angola, Ruto said overhauling the AU is an urgent step toward strengthening the continent’s voice and advancing its priorities on the global stage.
He noted that the cost implication of reforms has long been cited as a major obstacle, but warned that avoiding action would be more costly for Africa in the long run.
“If you think the AU is expensive because we want to make it effective, then let us have a noneffective union; it will cost more than the money that we are talking about,” he told the meeting.
Ruto stressed that not all reform decisions require monetary input and urged member states to stop using finances as an excuse for inaction.
“There are decisions that do not need any money. Why are we using money as an excuse to delay decisions that do not need money?” he posed.
The committee submitted its report on the eight-point reform agenda, which Ruto said is central to building a stronger and more responsive AU.
The priority areas include revitalising the peace and security architecture, improving financing, operationalising the African Court of Justice and streamlining the AU agenda format.
Others are revamping the Pan-African Parliament, categorising decisions, clarifying division of labour, and restructuring remaining AU organs, institutions and offices.
Ruto said these reforms are achievable and called on AU heads of state to work together to bring the agenda to fruition.
He said a summit of Heads of State scheduled for February will provide a platform for all members to contribute their perspectives and strengthen the reform process. He urged timely feedback on the report to help shape the summit agenda.
“Maybe to allay the fears of some delegations that maybe this document was arrived at without proper expertise being brought on board, I want to assure you that we brought in the best expertise,” he said, adding that the committee will provide all the reasons behind its recommendations.
“Let me encourage all of us here that this reform is doable and it's possible for us to do it in the shortest time possible. If we can have feedback maybe by December, then we can process it to the experts and prepare a comprehensive report that will then be tabled in February.”
Earlier, during his address to the 7th African Union–European Union Summit, Ruto said Africa is ready to work with partners who create value on the continent, build industries and generate opportunities for young people.
He added that Africa is deepening trade integration through regional economic communities and the African Continental Free Trade Area to maximise cooperation with partners such as the European Union.
“We call on the EU to join Africa in advancing digital transformation to open new opportunities, strengthen cooperation on climate adaptation, and support fair and managed labour mobility,” he said.
Present at the summit were Angola’s President João Lourenço, who also chairs the AU, EU President Ursula von der Leyen, AU Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, EU Council President António Costa and several AU and EU heads of state and government.
