Kenyan President William Ruto held a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing key areas of mutual interest, including trade, regional stability, and global security.
A major focus of their discussion was the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade framework that grants eligible African countries duty-free access to the American market.
Ruto emphasized the need for continued U.S. government support for AGOA’s extension and called for deeper engagement by the U.S. Department of Commerce to strengthen Africa-U.S. trade.
The renewal of AGOA carries significant economic implications for the region, including Uganda, which has benefited from increased exports of textiles, agricultural products, and other goods to the U.S. Uganda’s apparel industry, for instance, has grown under AGOA, creating thousands of jobs, particularly for women and youth. The country has also exported products such as coffee, vanilla, and fish under the agreement.
Beyond trade, Ruto and Rubio discussed Kenya’s leadership in regional peace and security efforts.
Ruto expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for appointing Massad Boulos as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, a move signaling Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in Africa.
Uganda, as a key player in the Great Lakes region, stands to benefit from these diplomatic engagements, particularly in efforts to stabilize the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has long impacted Uganda’s security and trade.
The conversation also touched on Kenya’s leadership in the Haiti stabilization mission, with Rubio reaffirming U.S. support for the initiative.
Ruto updated Rubio on Kenya’s role in the recent East African Community (EAC)-Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit on peace efforts in the DRC.
He also briefed him on Kenya’s facilitation of Sudanese dialogue, alongside partners such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Regarding South Sudan, Ruto outlined Kenya’s diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate violence and encourage dialogue between the government and opposition groups.
A peaceful South Sudan is crucial for Uganda, which hosts a significant number of South Sudanese refugees and has strong economic ties with Juba.
On counterterrorism, Ruto and Rubio discussed the growing terrorist threats in Somalia, with Ruto calling for stronger Kenya-U.S. collaboration in combating extremism.
Uganda, which contributes troops to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), also plays a critical role in the regional fight against terrorism.
Rubio commended Kenya for its leadership in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, reaffirming Washington’s continued partnership with East Africa on trade, security, and stability.
