Kenyan foreign minister, IPSS discuss African priorities on UN Security Council

17 September, 2019

Amb. Juma was highly appreciative of the fruitful exchanges, including the contributions by IPSS to peace and security research, training and dialogues.

On 17 September, the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya invited IPSS and three other think tanks to a meeting with Ambassador Monica Juma, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and Amani Africa, also participated in the exchange on current and topical issues that Kenya is keen to promote at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) upon its ascension to the council. IPSS was represented by Frank Djan Owusu, Programme Manager of the Executive Master’s in Managing Peace and Security in Africa (MPSA).

The East African region is allocated a non-permanent seat on the UNSC in the period 2021-2022. In August 2019, the African Union (AU) endorsed Kenya’s candidacy for the seat in a secret ballot held by AU member states.  According to Amb. Juma, Kenya is keen to promote African interests as a whole by building strong bridges between the UN, AU and and regional organizations for the betterment of Africa. The theme of the campaign, “Peace and Security for Sustainable Development”, is anchored on the following 10 sub-themes:

  1. Building bridges: Strong advocate for a reformed, strengthened and representative United Nations rooted at the centre of a rules-based international system. Kenya will promote a culture of peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity and aspirations.
  2. Regional peace and security: Build appropriate linkages between UN and African bodies to help solve regional conflicts or prevent them.
  3. Justice, human rights and democracy: Promote ideas that create a useful environment for a just society.
  4. Peacekeeping operations: Seek to have the UNSC provide a clear mandate and financial support for peace keeping operations.
  5. Gender equality: Promote policies that will ensure women and men participate in conflict resolution programmes.
  6. Humanitarian action: Seek lasting solutions to challenges of forced migration.
  7. Climate change: Seek lasting solutions to security challenges caused by erratic climatic conditions.
  8. Youth empowerment: Promote actions that include youth participation in key programmes.
  9. Sustainable development: synergize UN SDGs for 2030 and AU Agenda 2063.
  10. Counter-terrorism: Promote regional and global cooperation against terror merchants.

Amb. Juma was highly appreciative of the fruitful exchanges, including the contributions by IPSS to peace and security research, training and dialogues. She also noted the need to flag and find creative solutions to the evolving challenges in peace and security, to which she indicated the ministry would aim to tap into the expertise of IPSS other think tanks in research and analysis in order to support Kenya’s campaign and tenure at the UNSC.