Kenya accuses Djibouti of dishonesty as battle for Security Council seat tightens

NAIROBI- Djibouti breached a vital agreement reached with Kenya on candidacy for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non permanent seat, Kenya has claimed.

The two nations are set to battle for the African slot next year in June at the United Nations General Assembly meeting, in which non permanent representatives for 2021-22 will be picked.

Both countries have heightened campaigns, with the race getting tight each day. One of the key strategy being used is lobbying for endorsement from different world economic blocks.

In an exclusive interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday, Kenya's foreign affairs minister Monica Juma blamed Djibouti for the stiff competition witnessed in the African slot.

Djibouti, Monica Juma said, had pledged to respect the outcome of African Union vote in August after 19 months of unfruitful dialogue with Kenya.

"I am pretty surprised. The reason why we went for a vote was to make determination on who will be the African candidate in lines with our rules and procedures," Ms Juma said.

The top diplomat added: "Djibouti and us had agreed that since we had not reached a consensus, we let the AU help us make a determination. It came as a surprise because it was an agreement."

It has now emerged that Djibouti agreed to respect the African Union vote, but made a u-turn under unknown reasons. Kenya has however vowed to face the Horn of Africa nation.

During the voting in August, Kenya was endorsed by 37 African countries, with Djibouti managing only 13. Nairobi is facing the polls as official African representative.

“I am grateful to the African Union's PRC for the confidence they have shown by endorsing our candidature for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent seat,” President Uhuru Kenyatta had said.

Efforts to prevail upon Djibouti failed to succeed in September when Egyptian leader Abdel Fatah met Uhuru and his Djibouti counterpart Ismael Omar.

Djibouti argued that Kenya is unfit for the UNSC seat given her inability to solve maritime dispute with Somalia. The two neighbours are currently facing each other at International Court of Justice.

“If elected, Djibouti will relentlessly promote the obligation of all states to uphold international law in the maintenance of peace and security, and advocate for recommitment to a multilateral, rule-based international order,” Omar had told UN General Assembly.

Intensive lobbying is taking shape with Kenya now reaching out to Arab League and European Union for endorsement. In October, Uhuru visited Saudi Arabia.

For Djibouti, the small African country is banking on support from Francophone nations, Arab League and other interested friends to cement her bid.

Ms Juma is currently in New York where she's pushing for Kenya's bid. Nairobi is keen to capture the seat due to strategic interests such as the fight against Al-Shabaab militants.

GAROWE ONLINE