President William Ruto has called for proper African Union Reform Agenda to ensure the roles of the Bureau, Summits are duly rationalised.
Speaking during the Pan-African Parliament Summit on Climate Policy and Equity in South Africa, Ruto said there should be a review of funding arrangements to ensure AU budgets are financed primarily by members.
"In turn, this will require a mechanism where AU member States are up-to-date with their contributions with regard to all their commitments," he said.
The head of state noted that the budget of AU, which is funded by development partners hinders more developments in the region as they will determine how it is spent.
"The budget of AU is funded by development partners. What does it say about our ability to make decisions? It is said that he who pays the piper calls the tune," he said.
He added that departments in Bureaus, Summits, Committees, Regional Caucuses, Secretariat and Commissions should be duly rationalised to give Africa a fit-for-purpose continental governance body worth its name.
"As matters stand, our most core mandates depend on the goodwill of development partners, including critical peace and security matters. This needs to change. African solutions must look like solutions and, in principle, they ought to emanate from the Member States," Ruto said.
