On Thursday, November 23, 2023, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua departs the nation for Ciudad de la Paz (formerly Oyala), Equatorial Guinea, to attend the Committee of Ten (C-10) of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit regarding the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Gachagua will attend the current November 22–24, 2023 Summit on behalf of President William Ruto.
On November 24, 2023, he will make a statement on behalf of Kenya explaining why, among other things, the UNSC reforms must be expedited to ensure that Africa is fairly represented.
Reviewing the growing global momentum for UNSC reform, which started in 2005, the meeting aims to position and prepare Africa strategically for whatever outcome.
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Kenya has had a robust, warm, and fraternal relationship with development partners since independence.
— H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH (@rigathi) November 22, 2023
Development partners have played a critical role in helping us overcome myriad developmental challenges.
Today, at the official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, I host a… pic.twitter.com/BlMuEhpzvW
The heads of state and government of the C-10 States will also talk about how to use the Common African Position as a bargaining chip to reach a consensus on a workable schedule for UNSC reform that serves the continent's interests.
The primary responsibility of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C-10) is to present, advocate for, and garner support for the Common African Position on the Reform of the UNSC, as embodied in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. The Committee was established during the 4th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly on August 4, 2005, by Decision Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1 (IV).
During the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 63) in 2009, the United Nations General Assembly started the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the UN Security Council reforms.
The United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia are the Permanent Members of the UNSC. Additionally, there are non-permanent member roles that are filled alternately. The countries of Ghana, Gabon, and Mozambique represent Africa.
In December 2022, Kenya's two-year tenure as Africa's UN representative ended. Kenya is among the African nations advocating for changes to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the body that makes the final decisions for the UN. They want it to be a more inclusive body that considers and reflects regional balance and equal mandate.
Kenya and nine other members of the African Union were selected to spearhead these talks. Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Algeria, Libya, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Uganda are among the other states.
