Kenya’s Bid for UN Security Council Seat Gets Backing from 54 AU Nations

Kenya’s bid for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent seat for the 2021-2022 term has received the backing of 54 African Union countries.

The African Union (AU) endorsed Kenya's candidature after it garnered 37 votes against Djibouti’s 13 during a session by the 54-member regional group in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Kenya won the endorsement after the second round of voting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.

Currently, South Africa is the sole African representative in the UNSC. The UNSC seats reserved for Africa are often available on a regional rotational basis with the 2021-2022 seat falling on Eastern Africa.

Kenya and Djibouti were the only eastern Africa nations that showed interest in the seat.

China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States are the five permanent members in the UNSC. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) elects 10 non-permanent members to the council.

“Kenya’s candidature is informed by the critical role the UN Security Council plays in the maintenance of international peace and security,” President Kenyatta said during his visit to Barbados last week.

He urged the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to back Kenya's bid for the seat.