This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
Published on June 17, 2020, Kenya and Djibouti are set to face off today as UN members cast their votes for a new non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
The African position, currently held by South Africa, has seen Kenya and Djibouti lobby for support over the same post. Kenya has previously held the position twice, between 1973-1974 and 1997 to 1998.
Kenya's position is centered on building bridges, regional peace and security, peacekeeping, as well as counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism. Last year, in the first round of voting, Kenya garnered 33 votes out of 49 ballots cast, falling short of the two-thirds threshold.
However, with the Democratic Republic of Congo's endorsement, Kenya will be presented as the continent's sole candidate at polls to be held in New York today. To win a seat at the UNSC, Kenya will need the support of two-thirds of UN member States (129 votes).
The UNSC comprises China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States as permanent members, with 10 fixed-term membership slots shared among African and Asian countries.
