Kenya Backs New Framework to End African Union Donor Reliance

African Union funding reform relies on a proposed 0.2 percent levy on eligible imports, contrasting sharply with past voluntary contribution models that left the continental body heavily dependent on external donors.

Accra Executive Council Session

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi backed the funding shift on Friday during an Extraordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council and Ministers of Finance in Accra, Ghana, allafrica.com reported.

The ministers met to address declining predictability in foreign aid, rising public debt, and global economic uncertainty.

Option C Financing Framework

Mudavadi endorsed Option C, a proposed financing framework intended to make the African Union financially sustainable and improve resource accountability, according to allafrica.com.

Kenya’s delegation argued that reliance on external development partners undermines the continental body’s ability to independently implement decisions and pursue Agenda 2063 goals.

“Africa must have the means to finance the Africa it envisions.”

said Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary, according to allafrica.com.

Unmet Continental Commitments

Previous continental commitments, including Johannesburg Decision 578 and Kigali Decision 605, sought to increase member state contributions but left agreed financing targets largely unmet.

Option C builds around four key areas: prioritizing high-impact programs, consolidating budget planning, strengthening domestic resource mobilization, and improving institutional efficiency.

African Union Peace Fund and AAMFI Partnership Aims to Finance Security Operations

The framework proposes establishing a US$1 billion African Union Peace Fund endowment with regular replenishment mechanisms to finance peace and security operations reliably.

Kenya also supports a structured partnership between the African Union and the African Association of Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) to mobilize capital within the continent.

January 2027 AU Assembly

Deliberations in Accra are expected to produce recommendations for consideration by Heads of State and Government during the 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in January 2027.