Kenyan President William Ruto has criticised the African Union (AU) for its uncoordinated, underfunded, and poorly planned response to terrorism and conflict in Africa.

In concluding remarks at a two-day high-level retreat on institutional reforms held at State House in Nairobi, Mr Ruto stated, "As things stand today, Africa is a large theatre of conflict, and unfortunately, our response to terrorism has been uncoordinated."

He further noted that ongoing conflicts have cost the continent an estimated $18 billion annually and displaced millions of people. "Conflict continues to rob Africa of its potential," he said.

President Ruto revealed that Africa is currently home to 35 million internally displaced persons, 8.9 million refugees, 1.1 million asylum seekers, and millions of stateless individuals.

On the issue of terrorism, he highlighted that between April and June 2024 alone, 1,000 terrorist incidents were recorded across the continent, resulting in 4,818 deaths.

As the African Union's Champion for Institutional Reforms, Mr Ruto called for the establishment of a panel of experts to propose strategies for strengthening the continent’s response to conflict and improving its financing mechanisms.

He also emphasised the urgent need to revitalise the AU’s existing Peace and Security Council to tackle emerging challenges. "There is an urgent need for the revitalisation of the peace and security architecture," he said.

He concluded his remarks by urging fellow heads of state to unite in the fight against these challenges. "I urge you, my esteemed colleagues, to reflect deeply on how we can further fortify our peace and security architecture," he said.

Also speaking at the retreat, Ghanaian President John Mahama urged the African Union to adopt proactive measures to address the continent's challenges.

He highlighted other issues such as youth unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, and governance deficits as key concerns for Africa's future.