Kibaki's government engaged actively with the African Union (AU), which relocated from Addis Ababa to the newly constructed AU headquarters on Kenya's border, and Kenya hosted significant AU meetings and processes during Kibaki's presidency. Kenya's relationship with the AU reflected its position as an influential East African nation and its commitment to African integration and multilateral cooperation. Kibaki's government contributed to AU processes related to peace and security, development, and continental integration.
Kenya's role within the AU also reflected its interests in promoting African solutions to African problems and in reducing external intervention in African conflicts. Kibaki's government participated in AU-sponsored mediation efforts and peacekeeping operations, and Kenya hosted refugee populations fleeing from various African conflicts, positioning itself as a responsible actor in regional and continental affairs.
Kibaki's government also engaged with the AU on development and economic integration issues, supporting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and advocating for African unity in international negotiations. However, Kenya's AU engagement also reflected the practical limits of Kenya's influence and resources, as the country struggled to simultaneously manage domestic challenges and play an active role in continental affairs.
See Also
African Union History Kenya and Continental Integration African Peacekeeping Kenya NEPAD Kenya
Sources
- AU Assembly. Strategic Plan 2004-2010. AU Publications, 2004.
- Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kenya's AU Relations. Government Press, 2010.
- Mould, Andrew. "African Regional Integration and Development." World Bank Publications, 2013.