Five countries have backed Kenya’s push of a position at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) for the 2021-2022 term.
Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Rwanda made the decision at the 20th Extra Ordinary session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa.
The announcement was made Friday following a meeting between Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and her counterparts from the EAC member states.
The five countries join China and Namibia which have already declared their support.
Kenya’s campaign for the non-permanent membership of (UNSC) is set to be launched in June next year ahead of elections to be held in September 2019 during the 74th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“We’re hoping that we can get an endorsement at the AU level. If that endorsement comes through, the campaign will be very easy,” CS Juma indicated in September when she announced plans for the campaign.
China's support in the council will go a long way in helping Kenya's push for reforms to give Africa representation in the United Nation Security Council.
During President Uhuru Kenyatta's speech at the UN General Assembly on September, he stated: "As we all know, Africa is under-represented in the non-permanent category of the Security Council and not represented at all in the permanent category."
In August 2018, Cabinet approved an application for Kenya to join the council and a campaign strategy to lobby other member countries.
Kenya has been a non-permanent member of the council twice in the years 1973-1974 and 1997-1998.
