Advancing Kenya’s Prospects at the United Nations Security Council (Unsc): Opportunities and Hurdles

Executive Summary

This policy paper addresses the opportunities and hurdles for Kenya in achieving key milestones at the UNSC. The seat presents Kenya with some unique prospects that can produce significant gains if well leveraged. She should maximize the chairmanship and her one-month presidency to maintain contact with potential strategic allies as she puts forward agendas that are critical to the country. Among the key strategic opportunities is the spearheading of the Afro-Caribbean regional bloc comprising Kenya, Niger, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (hereafter referred to as the A3+1). Nevertheless, some internal dynamics and geopolitical hurdles such as the political turmoil in Sudan, the border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan and ongoing conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia, pose impediments. This paper recommends the improvement of Kenya’s global image and bolstering of relations between the UNSC and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) through activities of the A3.