Kenya's bid for Security Council seat endorsed by Vietnam as battle with Djibouti intensifies

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya has intensified campaigns for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat, reaching out to the far East for support ahead of June 2020 showdown.

Djibouti, which had initially pulled out front the race after the defeat among African nations in August, is giving Kenya sleepless nights.

Vietnam, one of the influential small nations in Asia, on Tuesday, endorsed Kenya's bid for the non-permanent position, becoming one of the latest countries to express faith in Nairobi.

Monica Juma, Kenya's Foreign Affairs minister who has been deployed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in the charm offensive to capture the sit, visited Hanoi on Tuesday.

The top Kenyan diplomat arrived in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, earlier on Tuesday and was received by Dang Thi Hai Tam, Deputy Director for the Middle East and Africa upon my arrival in Hano.

Afterwards, Ms Juma delivered a message from President Uhuru Kenyatta to Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

"Received by H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to deliver a special message to him from H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta today in Hanoi," she tweeted.

Phuc, Juma added: "Assured us of support for our candidature to the UNSC. Viet Nam will be joining the council for the period 2020-2021 and we look forward to serving with them in 2021."

Vietnam's support comes just a week after Tanzania, through President John Magufuli, endorsed Kenya as 'perfect African representative at UNSC'.

During the meeting at Hanoi on Tuesday, Vietnam agreed to revitalize bilateral relations with Kenya and to have it as a gateway to Africa.

"PM Phuc assured me of his country’s commitment to revitalizing our bilateral relations, to have Kenya as its bridge to the rest of Africa," Juma added.

In August, Kenya was picked as AU candidate for the UNSC post having scooped 37 votes to Djibouti's 13. Asmara however, refused to back out.

Djibouti is set to formally launch her bid on December 5th in New York. The Horn of Africa nation enjoys support from the Arab League and Francophone nations.

Somalia supports Djibouti's bid with the recent maritime dispute with Kenya contributing to her decision. The two nations have since agreed to normalize their bilateral relations.

The winner of the June 2020 polls will seat at the influential council in the 2021/22 period. South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Guinea have been representing Africa.

Kenya's bid is anchored on the fight against Al-Shabaab, economic strategic partner in East Africa and her overall democratic space in governance.

GAROWE ONLINE