African Union votes Kenya for UN Security Council seat 2021-2022

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union (AU) has endorsed Kenya’s Candidature for a seat in the United Nations Security Council, the Kenyan foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Kenya was elected to represent East Africa after defeating Djibouti. The UN Security Council vote was carried out by the African Union Permanent Representatives’ Committee at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

"Kenya got overwhelming support from members present scoring 37 votes against Djibouti's 13 votes," the foreign ministry said.

Amb Mohammed Idris Farah of Djibouti congratulated Kenya for a well-deserved win, expressing the hope that Kenya will ably represent "our great continent at the UNSC."

Ambassador Catherine Muigai- Mwangi, Kenya's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to AU, commended Djibouti for its commitment and passion to serve and pledged to take on board some of the important issues that Djibouti was keen to include in the AU Agenda at the UN Security Council.

Kenyan Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary , Amb Monica Juma, congratulated the African Union Permanent Representative Committee for putting their trust on Kenya. Juma said the endorsement is an affirmation that Kenya has remained true to the decisions and aspirations of the African Union.

She said the vote outcome also confirmed that Kenya "is a safe and dependable pair of hands. Kenya commits to the African brothers and sisters, that we shall be a bold voice for Africa and shall steadfastly promote and defend the African position."

The African Union will present Kenya (Eastern) to the UNSC for elections to be held in New York in June 2020 to serve for a period of two years (2021-2022).

Kenya might subsequently join Niger (Western) and Tunisia (Northern) that were elected in June 2019 to serve in 2020-2021.

Given Kenya’s Foreign Policy which is strongly afro-centric, the elections to the UNSC will give the country the opportunity to build consensus across regional and global matters that affect Africa.

Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta has welcomed the African Union’s endorsement of Kenya’s bid for a UN Security Council seat and called on the rest of the United Nations member states to support the country's candidature.   

The President said the backing by the African Union is a mark of confidence in Kenya’s capability to represent the continent’s interests.

-0- PANA AO/VAO 21Aug2019