Kenya-Djibouti wars, the delicate balance in seeking UNSC seat

In June this year, Kenya is expected to battle it out with Djibouti for Africa’s representative at the United Nations Security Council. The two countries have found themselves in a delicate balance as they try to lure other African states to vote for them. Last week, Kenya hit back at Djibouti for contesting its endorsement by the AU as Africa’s sole candidate for UNSC non-permanent seat for the 2021-22 period Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya said it no longer considers the matter about the candidature but the values and the principles it has chosen to abide by. The move came after Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh issued a statement saying by AU endorsing Kenya's candidature, it violated the rules and procedures. President Guaelleh said Djibouti ought to be Africa's sole representative for the non-permanent seat for the 2021-22 year based on the Africa groups and AU's clear rules and longstanding precedents for selecting a candidate. He said Djibouti with the support of many fellow African countries openly and vigorously challenged the validity of the flawed endorsement in 2019. "The AU Executive council decision not to endorse the 2019 recommendation of the AU PRC evidently makes the recommendation by this committee to endorse Kenya for the African Group's 2021-2022 non-permanents United Nations Security Council clearly illegitimate and void," Djibouti said. But Kenya in its response said it has remained restrained, choosing to run a dignified campaign that upholds African values and which focuses on the contribution it intends to make towards creating a just and peaceful world. Kenya said it is disturbed by a persistent and dishonourable campaign that Djibouti has been using to misrepresent the facts.