{
  "id": 9496444,
  "title": "Ruto warns UN double standards are eroding trust in global order",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ruto-warns-un-double-standards-are-eroding-trust-in-global-order",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T05:37:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-warns-un-double-standards-are-eroding-trust-in-global-order/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nairobi, Kenya - During the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, President William Ruto of Kenya emphasized that inconsistent application of international law and unequal power dynamics within the United Nations are creating mistrust in the global system. Addressing the assembly on Wednesday, Ruto argued that the credibility of the international system hinges on the consistent application of rules, rather than merely the existence of rules themselves. He cautioned against invoking international law \"loudly in one crisis, cautiously in another and disregarded when convenient,\" asserting that trust can only be restored through consistent behavior.\n\nRuto placed the issue within a broader critique of the post-World War II global order, contending that the institutions established in 1945 no longer accurately represent contemporary geopolitical realities. He highlighted the growing number of state-based armed conflicts, stating that 65 such conflicts occurred in 2023, with 13 at war scale, resulting in nearly 250,000 deaths. Ruto pointed out that interstate conflicts have doubled in the past year and quadrupled over two years, illustrating a troubling trend of conflicts that often stall, are deferred, or are resolved by force. He cited conflicts spanning various regions, including Europe, the Middle East, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa, underscoring how these disputes expose weaknesses in collective security mechanisms.\n\nHis criticism extended to the Security Council's composition, particularly the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—each wielding veto power. Ruto argued that this arrangement contradicts the principle of sovereign equality represented in the General Assembly, which boasts 193 member states but lacks a permanent seat for any nation, despite Africa’s significant impact on the issues the Council addresses. He noted that Africa, with its 54 member states, remains excluded from permanent representation, a situation he labeled as a historical injustice, echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ view.\n\nRuto emphasized that Africa’s exclusion from permanent Council membership reflects the historical circumstances of 1945, rather than the political realities of the 21st century. He argued that while much of Africa was under colonial rule at the time of the UN’s founding, the world has since transformed, yet the Security Council has not adapted. He called for a more representative and inclusive Security Council, urging member states to reform the body to better reflect today’s realities.\n\nFurthermore, Ruto connected political reform at the UN to financial inequalities faced by developing countries. He noted that global public debt stood at $102 trillion in 2024, with developing countries bearing a disproportionate burden—spending about $1 trillion on interest payments annually, despite holding less than a third of that debt. He criticized developed countries for lending at unfavorable terms, emphasizing the need for reforms to the international financial architecture, such as increased lending by multilateral development banks, stronger guarantees, and longer-term financing in local currencies.\n\nHowever, Ruto also acknowledged the responsibility of developing countries to strengthen their own institutions, calling for debt prudence, credible projects, robust institutions, reliable contracts, and action against corruption. He framed political and financial reforms as interconnected, asserting that both are essential to ensuring that global institutions truly embody the principle of sovereign equality. Ruto urged Africa to move beyond merely receiving aid to contributing to global value chains, highlighting the continent’s vast mineral resources, agricultural potential, renewable energy, and youthful population as assets that could drive economic growth and innovation.",
  "summary": "NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 24— President William Ruto has warned that inconsistent application of international law and unequal power within the United Nations are eroding trust in the multilateral system, urging…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Ruto challenges post-war global order, renews call for permanent African voice at UN",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ruto-challenges-post-war-global-order-renews-call-for-permanent",
        "published": "2026-09-24T05:25:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}