African Union

Also known as: Organisation of African Unity · Africa Union · OAU · the African Union · African Union member states

Continental organization coordinating African health, trade, security, and policy initiatives across member states.

2026-04-262026-10-29

News reports

Order a long-term news report on African Union

Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

October 2026
27 OctCitizen Digital
… The President, who serves as the African Union champion on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), is expected to push for greater market access for Kenyan and African products, including tea, coffee, cut flowers, fresh produce and value-added goods. …
President Ruto heads to Moscow for Russia-Africa Forum
27 OctCitizen Digital
… He said the United Nations would continue supporting Somalia through its resident agencies, funds and programmes, working with Somali authorities, the African Union and other international partners to promote peace, stability, human rights and sustainable development. …
UN mission in Somalia ends October 31 after successful two-year transition
26 OctCapital News
… Ethiopian citizens can access a further 33 destinations through visas on arrival, while only five African Union member states — Kenya, Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda and Togo — are listed as allowing them visa-free entry. …
Ethiopian passport ranks among world’s lowest, limiting travel to 17 visa-free destinations
24 OctCitizen Digital
… It was established in 2012 following the African Union’s 2009 Tripoli Declaration, which called for African-led approaches to peace and security.
Kindiki arrives in Ethiopia for African security forum
24 OctThe Standard
… o stressed the need for African-led solutions to conflicts, saying lasting peace was essential for the continent’s long-term development.“This demands strong, accountable institutions and inclusive political processes, supported by empowered and adequately resourced African Union …
Kindiki urges African countries to shield resources from external exploitation
23 OctCapital News
… Former African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha, who attended the opening, said Taiwan’s restoration resonated with Africa’s own experiences of colonialism and the struggle for independence. …
Xinhua takes Taiwan restoration exhibition to five African countries
23 OctCitizen Digital
… You will work with Member States and partners, respecting country ownership and existing African Union governance arrangements," reads the letter in part. …
PS Mary Muthoni appointed to chair Africa CDC immunisation task force
22 OctCapital News
… An Africa with permanent representation on the Council, consistent with the African Union’s Common African Position, would strengthen confidence in the United Nations among African citizens, he said. …
Mudavadi calls for accountability, fairer global institutions to rebuild public confidence
22 OctCitizen Digital
… He said permanent African representation, in line with the African Union's Common African Position, would strengthen the legitimacy of the United Nations among African citizens. …
Mudavadi calls for accountability, fairer global institutions to restore public trust
22 OctThe Standard
… Permanent African representation, in line with the African Union's Common African Position, would strengthen the United Nations' standing among African citizens, he added. …
How public trust in leaders can weaken accountability

Politics

President Ruto travels to Moscow for Russia-Africa Forum

The News

President William Ruto has departed for Moscow to participate in the Third Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, where he aims to secure new export markets for Kenyan products, attract foreign investment, and promote job creation. As African Union champion on the African Continental Free Trade Area, Ruto will push for market access for Kenyan and African exports including tea, coffee, cut flowers, and fresh produce, and seek investments in agro-processing, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure.

27 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 27 October

President Ruto travels to Moscow for Russia-Africa Forum
President William Ruto has departed for Moscow to participate in the Third Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, where he aims to secure new export markets for Kenyan products, attract foreign investment, and promote job creation. As African Union champion on the African Continental Free Trade Area, Ruto will push for market access for Kenyan and African exports including tea, coffee, cut flowers, and fresh produce, and seek investments in agro-processing, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure.
27 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UN mission in Somalia ends October 31 after two-year transition
The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) will cease operations on October 31, closing more than three decades of UN missions in the Horn of Africa. The mission's functions have been transferred to Somali institutions and UN agencies as part of a jointly agreed roadmap to strengthen national ownership of peacebuilding and state-building efforts.
27 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 26 October

Ethiopian passport ranks 90th globally with 17 visa-free destinations
Ethiopian passport holders can travel to only 17 countries without a visa and 33 destinations with visas on arrival, according to the 2026 Global Passport Power Index, placing Ethiopia at position 90 alongside Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan. Only five African Union member states — Kenya, Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda and Togo — allow Ethiopians visa-free entry, with economic conditions, security concerns and diplomatic relations cited as factors limiting the passport's standing.
26 October 2026 · Capital News →

Saturday 24 October

Kindiki attends African security forum in Ethiopia
Kenya's Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has arrived in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, for the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa (October 23–25), where African leaders and policymakers discuss the continent's peace and security challenges under the theme of economic sovereignty and geopolitical transformation.
24 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kindiki calls African nations to protect resources and boost intra-African trade
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki urged African countries at the Tana Forum in Ethiopia to shield the continent's resources from external exploitation, invest in value addition and manufacturing rather than exporting raw materials, and strengthen regional cooperation to protect Africa's sovereignty and influence in global affairs.
24 October 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 23 October

Xinhua exhibits Taiwan restoration history across five African nations
China's state news agency Xinhua is displaying a photo exhibition on Taiwan's restoration after World War II in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, and Mozambique, aimed at promoting Beijing's position on territorial integrity and reunification while strengthening China-Africa cultural ties.
23 October 2026 · Capital News →
PS Mary Muthoni chairs Africa CDC immunisation task force
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has been appointed to chair Task Force 4 under the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Continental Immunization Forum, tasked with strengthening coordination between African countries and development partners on immunisation programmes.
23 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 22 October

Mudavadi calls for accountability, fairer global institutions
Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi warned that public trust cannot be sustained without institutions demonstrating integrity and fairness, and cautioned against treating confidence in leaders as a substitute for accountability mechanisms like parliamentary oversight and media scrutiny.
22 October 2026 · Capital News →
Mudavadi calls for accountability and global institutional reform
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, speaking at the Global Trust Summit in Nairobi, called for stronger accountability, inclusive governance and reforms to global institutions, saying public confidence can only be restored when leaders demonstrate integrity, fairness and tangible results. He warned that declining public trust threatened the foundations of institutions, economic prosperity and international cooperation.
22 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Public trust in leaders can reduce political accountability pressure
Research across 37 African countries shows that confidence in presidents and ruling parties links to weaker support for oversight. Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi, speaking at the Global Trust Summit in Nairobi, argued that institutions should earn public confidence through conduct and transparency rather than demand blind loyalty.
22 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya prepares for AU health manufacturing summit in December
Medical Services PS Dr. Ouma Oluga met with a World Bank delegation to discuss preparations for the 22nd Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Manufacturing of Health Products and Technologies, scheduled for December 3–5, 2026. The summit aims to bring together African Heads of State and stakeholders to advance local manufacturing of health products across the continent and strengthen regional production capacity.
22 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 21 October

Africa CDC convenes ministerial meeting on Ebola spread
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will convene African health ministers on October 28 to coordinate a continental response to an Ebola outbreak reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria, with cases spreading across Central, Eastern and Western Africa.
21 October 2026 · Capital News →
African policymakers convene in Nairobi on education financing
African policymakers, researchers and development partners are meeting in Nairobi for the 5th GPE-KIX Africa Research Symposium (October 21–23) to explore sustainable ways to finance education as governments face rising public debt, declining external financing, and pressure to expand quality education access.
21 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
African ministers endorse regional shipping plan to reduce trade costs
Ministers from MOESNA member states have endorsed a proposed regional shipping lines and maritime cabotage protocol to reduce freight costs and build indigenous shipping capacity. The move aims to address high costs, reliance on foreign ships, and fragmented regulations, while increasing intra-Africa trade and expanding maritime job opportunities.
21 October 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 17 October

Former Senegalese President Sall withdraws from UN Secretary-General race
Macky Sall has withdrawn his candidacy for UN Secretary-General after the sixth informal Security Council straw poll, in which all seven candidates received at least one "discourage" vote. Sall said his decision aims to help facilitate a consensus candidate, and noted that straw polls have indicated Security Council preference for a candidate from Latin America and the Caribbean, possibly a woman.
17 October 2026 · Capital News →
African blocs seek joint funding for local medical supply production
Five African Regional Economic Communities (IGAD, SADC, COMESA, EAC, and ECCAS) have called for a joint financing compact and coordinated procurement of medical supplies to strengthen health emergency preparedness and reduce reliance on fragmented regional responses. The recommendations, adopted at a meeting in Lusaka from October 14 to 16, include stronger cross-border disease surveillance and expanded regional manufacturing of health products.
17 October 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 16 October

Africa faces 5.85 million health worker shortage despite gains
Africa CDC reports the continent has expanded its health workforce to 5.72 million in 2024, growing from 4.3 million in 2018, but still faces a shortfall of 5.85 million health workers needed to meet healthcare demands and Universal Health Coverage targets by 2030.
16 October 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 15 October

Africa must shape global institutions, demand accountability, UN official says
A UN Under-Secretary-General has said trust in multilateral institutions can only be restored if Africa has greater say in global decision-making and holds international partners and its own governments accountable for unfulfilled commitments and unequal representation.
15 October 2026 · Capital News →
Xi Jinping outlines four African conflict resolution principles
Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined four principles for resolving African conflicts during a meeting with Togo's President: African-led solutions, respect for national sovereignty, an end to hostilities, and efforts to address root causes of insecurity. Xi emphasized that African people should remain central to decisions affecting the continent and that outside parties should respect Africa's leadership in regional affairs.
15 October 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 14 October

Africa launches council to shape AI policy with public input
The Africa Public Interest AI Council, established by the Samawati Collective, will assess how AI development affects ordinary Africans and advise governments on regulating the technology as they formulate policies. The six-member independent council will commission research, convene public discussions, and examine AI's impact on democratic participation, cultural expression, and economic opportunity.
14 October 2026 · The Standard →
Mudavadi says Kenya's diplomacy critical for regional security
Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya would leverage diplomacy, strategic partnerships and regional institutions to address emerging security threats across the Horn of Africa, East Africa and Great Lakes region, emphasizing that lasting peace requires strong institutions, economic development and sustained regional cooperation.
14 October 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 13 October

Matiang'i urges Ruto to stop attacking Uhuru, focus on governance
Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang'i has called on President William Ruto to stop criticising former President Uhuru Kenyatta and instead focus on governing the country, saying Uhuru has retired from active politics and should be allowed to serve in his African Union and East African Community roles.
13 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya to participate in third Russia-Africa Summit October 2026
Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi has confirmed Kenya will participate in the Russia–Africa Summit set for October 28–29, 2026, in Moscow, with a focus on economic development, trade, investment, energy, food security and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.
13 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Ebola case prompts regional health measures
Kenya's first confirmed Ebola virus case has prompted neighbouring countries, including Somalia, to strengthen surveillance and emergency preparedness. Somalia's health ministry is reviewing laboratory capacity, specimen collection, testing arrangements, infection prevention measures, and isolation facilities in response to cross-border movement concerns.
13 October 2026 · The Standard →
UN envoy urges seizing peace opportunity in eastern DR Congo
A UN special envoy told the Security Council that despite increased diplomatic efforts and notable progress in US- and Qatar-led peace processes, the security and humanitarian situation in eastern DR Congo has worsened, and urged all parties to translate commitments into verifiable actions.
13 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya to participate in Russia-Africa Summit October 2026
Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed Kenya will participate in the third Russia–Africa Summit scheduled for October 28–29, 2026, in Moscow. Kenya's focus will be on economic development, diplomatic training, cultural cooperation, trade, investment, energy, food security and emerging technologies.
13 October 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 12 October

Blue economy emerges as central frontier for coastal African states
Ocean-related trade reached nearly $2.5 trillion, with services now overtaking goods at 58% of the total, according to UNCTAD data. Africa's 38 coastal and island states control over 30,000 kilometers of coastline but capture only a fraction of global maritime value, raising questions about whether they can leverage upgraded ports and trade corridors to capture more of this wealth.
12 October 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya to explore hosting Africa's credit rating agency
President William Ruto announced that Kenya will discuss becoming a sovereign client of Africa's newly launched credit rating agency and explore hosting a secondary jurisdiction of the institution in Nairobi, as African governments seek alternatives to dominant international rating agencies.
12 October 2026 · Capital News →
AU pushes financial reforms and debt relief at Bangkok IMF meetings
The African Union will advocate for reforms to the global financial system, improved debt resolution mechanisms and stronger financial independence for Africa during the 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, scheduled for October 12–18. The AU plans four side events focusing on international tax cooperation, African financial institutions, cross-border payments and debt resolution mechanisms.
12 October 2026 · Capital News →
African nationals recruited into Russia's Ukraine war, 502 confirmed dead
An investigation by Journalists for Justice found at least 3,066 African nationals from 40 countries enlisted in Russia's military between October 2022 and June 2026, with 502 confirmed dead and over 2,500 with unconfirmed whereabouts. Cameroon, South Africa, Tanzania and Somalia are among countries whose nationals joined Russia's armed forces, with at least 104 Cameroonians confirmed dead.
12 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →