Unravelling Gachagua's Equatorial Guinea Tour

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has arrived in Equatorial Guinea for a significant summit involving African leaders focused on the reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Several attendees are present at this gathering including UN and AU officials alongside various representatives. In order to lead discussions on reforming the Council, the Committee of Ten (C-10) states have been chosen by the African Union. Gachagua represents President William Ruto at the two-day meeting. Kenya is among the nations in Africa that are keen on reforming the UNSC so that there is regional fairness and equal decision-making authority - values that align with inclusivity.

In Ciudad de la Paz today, Kenya plans to present its statement through the Deputy President, stressing the importance of accelerating the reforms within the UNSC to ensure that Africa is more equitably represented on the council through their expansion of membership. Meanwhile, a statement has been released to the media explaining how and why the ongoing 2005 process of assessing the international momentum surrounding UNSC reform could affect Africa. Uganda is the host country of this meeting, welcoming representatives from both the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU).

During the upcoming meeting, heads of state and government from the C-10 countries will strategize on leveraging the African Union's unified stance to drive negotiations with regard to the UN Security Council reform. Ultimately, their objective is to construct a practical and achievable map of action that would advance the continent's interests. Established in the aftermath of the 2005 national assembly, the AU C-10 task force is charged with pushing through the prospective African-centric reforms concerning the UNSC, drawing from guiding consensus texts like the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly commenced the Intergovernmental Negotiations on reforms to the UNSC. At present, the UNSC consists of permanent representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, as well as rotating non-permanent members. Representing Africa in the UNSC are Mozambique, Gabon, and Ghana, with Kenya's tenure set to conclude in December 2022.