Kenya on Tuesday secured endorsement for the UN Security Council non-permanent seat from Tanzania and Suriname.
Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America.
President Desiré Bouterse assured President Uhuru Kenyatta of his country’s support for Kenya’s UNSC bid when they met at State House Nairobi.
He is accompanied by First Lady Ingrid Waldring Bouterse during his visit.
Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma said the two heads of state also discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and global solidarity between Africa, the Carribbean and Latin America within the framework of south-south cooperation.
From Kenya, President Bouterse is scheduled to visit China on the invitation of President Xi Jinping from Wednesday to Saturday.
Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Palamagamba Kabudi also paid a courtesy visit to the President as a special envoy of President John Magufuli, and assured of his country’s support in Kenya’s bid.
He said they have has “full confidence in the ability of Kenya to represent the African continent in the security council”.
On November 18, Slovakia endorsed Kenya’s bid when Foreign CAS Ababu Namwamba met State Secretary for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Lukáš Parízek.
The African Union has endorsed Kenya for the UNSC seat in August after it defeated Djibouti with 37 votes against 13. Voting had to go for the second round at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, after Kenya got 34 and Djibouti 15, with 2 abstentions in the first round.
The continental endorsement meant Kenya was to be Africa’s sole candidate for the race but Djibouti insisted on vying.
The African Union early this month submitted a legal opinion to the UN, supporting Kenya’s argument that it is Nairobi alone that should be competing from Africa.
President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday met President Desiré Bouterse of Suriname who was accompanied by First Lady Ingrid Waldring Bouterse. President Bouterse assured President Kenyatta of his country’s support for Kenya’s UNSC bid.
