Uhuru Kenyatta Warns ‘Trust Deficit’ Threatens Africa’s Fragile Peace Efforts
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued a stark warning over what he described as a growing “trust deficit” undermining peace and stability across Africa, cautioning that agreements alone are not enough to secure lasting calm.
Speaking during the Johannesburg Arbitration Week 2026, Kenyatta said that while mediation processes often yield agreements, their long-term success is frequently jeopardised by deep-seated mistrust between governments and citizens, as well as among communities.
“Peace agreements can be signed, but without trust, they remain fragile and at risk of collapse,” he said, underscoring the need for stronger relationships between leaders and the populations they serve.
Drawing on his mediation experience in conflict-prone regions including South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenyatta argued that sustainable peace hinges on good governance, inclusivity and the fair distribution of resources.
The former Head of State made the remarks during the “Statesmen in Dialogue: Leadership and Dispute Resolution in Africa” panel, where he appeared virtually alongside a number of prominent African leaders.
Among those in attendance were former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, Nigeria’s ex-leader Goodluck Jonathan and Liberia’s former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Kenyatta also raised concerns over what he termed increasing fragmentation within African institutions, warning that it risks eroding the unity once championed during the early days of Pan-Africanism.
“Africa must rediscover its collective voice,” he said, adding that unity is no longer optional but essential for both peace and economic development.
The three-day forum, organised by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa, brought together policymakers, business leaders and academics under the theme: “Arbitration in a Fragmented Global Order: The Future of Trade, Investment, and Sustainable Development.”
In his closing remarks, Kenyatta urged African leaders to prioritise rebuilding trust at all levels of governance, warning that without transparency, accountability and inclusiveness, peace initiatives will continue to falter.
“Without trust, even the best agreements will fail,” he concluded.
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