This archive report was first published on 21 June 2020.
Kenya Wins UN Security Council Seat Amidst AU Fractures ¶
On June 18, 2020, Kenya secured the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) after a heated campaign against Djibouti.
The victory came despite Djibouti's defiance of the African Union's (AU) endorsement of Kenya's sole candidature, with Djibouti's President Ismail Guelleh traveling extensively to lobby for support.
Kenya garnered 129 votes against Djibouti's 62 in the second round of voting, with some countries like Pakistan and Somalia publicly admitting to siding with Djibouti.
However, Djibouti's efforts ultimately fell short, and the country's President Ismail Guelleh promptly conceded defeat and congratulated Kenya on its victory.
Kenya's Foreign Affairs Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba acknowledged the maturity of the campaign, stating, 'Maturity entails the ability to draw a distinction between rivalry and enmity. Djibouti has been a very worthy rival in this bid, never an enemy.'
Kenya's 10-point agenda, which includes fighting terrorism, empowering youth and women, and environmental conservation, is set to be a key focus for the country's UNSC tenure.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) has welcomed the outcome, with a political advisor terming the result 'a win-win result.'
However, some international relations scholars have expressed concerns that Kenya should have worked harder to defend the legitimacy of the African Union, particularly given Djibouti's disregard for the AU's endorsement.
