What You Need to Know
President William Ruto has condemned global superpowers, including the U.S., for their role in the weakening of international peace systems. Speaking at LUISS University, he highlighted the dysfunction of the UN Security Council and called for urgent reforms to ensure fair representation for African nations. Ruto’s remarks come amid escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing war in
Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has criticised global superpowers, including the United States, over allegations of the weakening state of international peace systems.
Speaking at LUISS University in Italy on Tuesday, April 21, Ruto said the current global framework led by the United Nations is under serious strain, citing growing tensions among countries as evidence of a failed conflict-prevention system.
Ruto questioned the credibility of the UN Security Council, noting that powerful nations tasked with maintaining peace are increasingly accused of violating it.
“What clearer evidence of dysfunction can there be than a system in which those entrusted to underwrite global peace and prevent aggression are themselves accused,” Ruto posed.
“What clearer signal do we require than a world that appears to be drifting towards an order defined not by rules but by might?” he added.
In his speech, the Head of State noted that for decades the world has relied on institutions meant to preserve peace and enable collective action when stability is threatened.
However, he warned that the system is now under immense threat and that the escalating geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing war in Iran, placed global superpowers on the spot.
Ruto further argued that such a trend undermines the authority of the UN, which he said is increasingly unable to respond effectively when major powers are involved in disputes.
He emphasised that African nations have long advocated reforms to global governance structures in the UN, particularly the organisation’s Security Council, to ensure fair representation.
“It is for this reason that Kenya and the rest of Africa are right in calling for urgent reforms of the UN, more particularly the UN Security Council,” Ruto noted.
President Ruto’s comments come on the back of the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel and Iran, which involves heavy airstrikes and naval blockades that have resulted in a global fuel crisis.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the U.S. and Israel to stop the war and for Iran to cease attacks on neighbours, warning that the crisis is causing immense human suffering and risks wider regional escalation.
Speaking on April 2, 2026, Guterres emphasised that the impacts of the crisis are no longer regional, pointing specifically to the severe fuel disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe,” he warned.
The United Nations was established after World War II to promote peace and prevent conflicts among nations. However, over the decades, the effectiveness of the UN Security Council has been questioned, especially as powerful nations often act in their own interests. This has led to calls for reform, particularly from African nations, who seek greater representation and influence within the UN framework. President Ruto’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among African leaders that the current global governance structures do not adequately address their concerns or the realities of modern geopolitical conflicts.
