United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President William Ruto on Tuesday, March 26, over a phone call.
According to a statement from the US government, the Secretary of State commended Kenya’s role in fostering regional peace and security in East and Central Africa.
Further, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce noted that Secretary Rubio expressed appreciation for Kenya’s leadership in addressing security challenges and promoting regional stability.
During the discussion, the two leaders deliberated on security issues, especially the situation in Somalia and South Sudan.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to thank him for Kenya’s leadership on regional peace and security,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: Uhuru Kenyatta to Meet Ruto After Key Appointments
Ruto and US Discuss DRC Conflict
Their conversation also touched on the escalating conflicts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan.
Secretary Rubio and President Ruto reaffirmed the urgent need for diplomatic interventions to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Kenya has been at the forefront of peace efforts in DRC, working alongside regional and international partners to facilitate peace talks.
Ruto, his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and other former heads of state, are set to meet and hold a high-level session on the situation in DRC and discuss new resolutions aimed at addressing the crisis.
Uhuru Kenyatta was among members appointed to the Panel of Facilitators of the discussions on a Tuesday, March 25, communique alongside Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of South Africa.
Also appointed was Catherine Samba Panza, former President of Central African Republic and, Sahle-Work Zewde, former President of Ethiopia.
“The Joint Summit directed the co-chairs to organize a session with the facilitation panel within the next seven days, ensuring a joint briefing by SADC, EAC, and the African Union,” the communiqué stated.
Kenya has also been actively involved in mediation in Sudan under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) framework, pushing for an end to hostilities between rival military factions.
Also Read: Kenyan Police Officer in Haiti Missing After Ambush
Kenya in Haiti
At the same time, Kenya is leading a Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti funded by the United Nations to bring peace to the nation since June 2024.
According to the latest reports, a Kenyan police officer died in Haiti after an attack on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
MSS Spokesperson Jack Ombaka said the officer went missing after an ambushat approximately 16:30hrs along the Carrefour Paye-Savien Main Supply Route in the Pont-Sonde area, Artibonite Department after a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle on patrol got stuck in a ditch suspected to have been deliberately dug by gangs along the route.
The US on Tuesday, March 11, banned flights to Haiti’s capitol Port-au-Prince because of the worsening gang violence situation in Haiti.
United Nations’ human rights expert on Haiti said that the crisis was more critical than ever.
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