Did Kenya’s President William Ruto Threaten To Withdraw African Nations From The United Nations?

A Facebook user, @Afrocania claims that Kenya’s President, William Ruto has threatened to lead a delegation of African Leaders to pull out of the United Nations, UN, if Africa is not given a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. The post had an image of President Ruto and the UN Complex with the caption: 

“I WILL LEAD A DELEGATION OF AFRICAN LEADERS TO PULL OUT OF UNITED NATIONS IF AFRICA IS NOT GIVEN A PERMANENT SEAT… ENOUGH OF THE DISRESPECT!”-Kenya Point One and Presido William Ruto threatens to pull out from United Nations. In his words: “You cannot claim to be the United Nations while disregarding the voices of fifty-four nations, it is impossible. Africa will no longer remain on the margins of global governance while decisions on peace, security, and development are made without our perspectives and our voice. Excluding Africa is not only unacceptable, unfair, and grossly unjust, it undermines the very credibility of this organization. Africa dominates much of the Security Council’s agenda, provides some of the largest contingents of UN peacekeepers, and bears the heaviest costs of instability. Yet, we remain the only continent without a permanent seat.”

When this report was published, this claim had over 48,500 reactions, comments and shares.

VERIFICATION

At the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, President William Ruto strongly criticised Africa’s continued exclusion from permanent membership of the UN Security Council. He described the situation as “unacceptable, unfair and grossly unjust” and called for at least two permanent seats (with veto powers) and five non-permanent seats for Africa.

The president reminded delegates that 2025 marked 20 years since the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, a landmark agreement that defined Africa’s common position on UN reforms and challenged the global body for repeatedly ignoring Africa’s calls for inclusion in decisions that regularly affect the continent.

“For two decades, Africa has spoken in one voice, demanding justice, equity, and representation in the highest organ of global governance. This demand, however, continues to be ignored, deferred, or endlessly debated to the detriment of both Africa and the legitimacy of the United Nations itself,” Ruto said. He further stated that reforming the Security Council is not a favour to Africa, but “a necessity for the United Nations’ own survival.”

President Ruto’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly emphasised His push for reforms but did not mention any withdrawal ultimatum. Nowhere in his official speech or in the media coverage of Ruto’s speech at UNGA did he threaten to lead a pull-out of African nations from the UN if Africa is not given a permanent seat.

CONCLUSION 

The claim that President William Ruto threatened to lead African nations to pull out of the United Nations if Africa is not granted a permanent seat on the Security Council is MISLEADING. While Ruto strongly criticised the exclusion of Africa from permanent membership, he did not issue a withdrawal ultimatum.