LUANDA, Angola — President William Ruto has called for a transformative shift in Africa’s engagement with external partners, urging a move away from raw material extraction toward industrialisation and innovation.
He made the remarks during the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, where he pushed for deeper economic cooperation, investment in youth-led industries, and broader regional integration.
“Africa is ready to work with partners who add value on African soil, building industries and consequently creating opportunities for young people in the continent,” Ruto said. “We must move from extractive partnerships to productive ones, from exporting raw materials to exporting innovation and finished products.”
President Ruto underlined the importance of economic integration as a foundation for this transformation, pointing to regional economic communities and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as critical engines for development.
“Africa is deepening trade integration, with regional economic communities at the base and the African Continental Free Trade Area, a single market of 1.4 billion people, as the ultimate driver,” he said.
He also called on the European Union to partner more meaningfully with Africa in sectors like digital transformation, climate resilience, and labour mobility.
“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,” Ruto added.
The summit in Luanda was attended by a number of heads of state and government, including President João Lourenço of Angola, who currently chairs the African Union, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Also present were AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, EU Council President António Costa, and other African and European leaders.
Ruto’s remarks reflect Kenya’s broader vision for Africa’s future: one grounded in self-reliance, industrial growth, and equitable partnerships that benefit the continent’s youth and its long-term development.
