Ruto calls for enhanced Intra-Africa trade to combat extreme poverty

President William Ruto (right), Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye (centre) and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, on August 21, 2025. [PCS]

President William Ruto has emphasized the need for increased intra-African trade through the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking at the Economic Pillar on Trade and Investment during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, Ruto highlighted the importance of removing trade barriers to better withstand and navigate the challenges posed by growing global uncertainties and disruptions in international trade.