Lee wraps up attendance at U.N. General Assembly, heads to Mexico for summit

On Wednesday, September 24, 2026, President William Ruto addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, emphasizing Africa's vast mineral resources, agricultural potential, and renewable energy assets. He urged for greater investment to transform Africa from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods. Ruto stressed Africa's role in food, clean energy, manufacturing, and global supply chains during the UN assembly.

He highlighted Africa's growing population and interconnectedness through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as key factors in its potential to drive global growth. Ruto urged Africa to shift its focus from mere resource extraction to processing, manufacturing, and adding more value to its resources on the continent.

He cited progress in sectors like cocoa and cotton production, which are branching out from selling raw materials to creating brands and value chains. The UN has recognized Africa's significant share of the world's critical mineral reserves, but also warned that the continent must capture more economic value from these resources locally.

Ruto emphasized that Africa should not merely become another cycle of exporting raw materials in the clean energy transition. He called for the AfCFTA to evolve into a platform where Africa creates more of the goods it currently imports, turning its resources into jobs, industries, and products on the continent.