Sahrawi, climate change, security Kenya's agenda as AUPSC chair

Kenya has been elected member of the African Union Peace and Security Council for a three-year term ending in March 2022, and will be chair this month.

Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Permanent Representative to the AU Jean Kamau says the March 2021 programme will aim at tackling critical security issues in Africa and those in line with Kenya’s foreign policy. 

"The last time Kenya chaired the AUPSC was in April 2020 under the leadership of Kenya’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia Catherine Mwangi. It is, therefore, an honour for the country to serve as chair and provide leadership in finding solutions to Africa’s issues on peace and security, especially when formulating Covid-19 recovery plans and strategies," Kamau said in an interview on Wednesday.

During its chairmanship, Kamau said, Kenya will seek to advance its national peace agenda and gather grievances from member states on peace and security that need to be addressed within the UNSC framework.

The issues Kenya will prioritise will be climate change, regional peace and stability and "the escalating military tension between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Sahrawi Republic".

"For close to 35 years, Kenya has supported the Sahrawi Republic in its quest for self-determination and independence," she said. 

The matter came up on March 9 when President Uhuru Kenyatta chaired a virtual meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council. He is this month’s chairperson of the council.

"The meeting recalled the principles that underpinned the resolution of the 14th Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Union on the matter of “Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020”. In this regard, PSC reiterated the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Western Sahrawi, " a statement by Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said. 

The statement said the PSC called for "an immediate ceasefire" that would allow for the resumption of peace talks in that region, noting that the continued conflict in Western Sahara was inconsistent with relevant AU decisions and resolutions.

"This was also incompatible with the objectives and principles of the constitutive Act of the African Union," the statement said. 

The Sahrawi issue has been a diplomatic hot potato, with the Moroccan Foreign Ministry recalling its ambassador to Kenya for consultations over the matter in June 2005.

Morocco at  the time  said it “strongly deplores the unjustified and unjustifiable decision announced by Kenya to recognise the pseudo RASD (Saharwi Arab Democratic Republic) and to establish with it so-called diplomatic relations."

Morocco Ambassador El Mokhtar Ghambou in January this year, however, urged Kenya to cooperate and work on improving bilateral relations.  

Ghambou called on Kenya to learn more about the Moroccan Autonomy Plan in Western Sahara — which suggests making the territory a semi-autonomous region — and support it.

CLIMATE CHANGE

On climate change, Kamau said it impacts food security, human security and disrupts social economic development, contributing to communities competing for scarce resources or protecting their water and livelihoods, thus informing its prioritisation.

"This is a problem facing many Africa countries that requires collective review and action to address the consequences and impact," she said.

During the March 9 meeting, President Kenyatta emphasized on the negative impacts of climate change on peace and security in AFrica.

He called on the continent to develop a common position ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) this year.

“Climate change is a key defining development and the foremost emerging security challenge of our time. It acts as a ‘multiplier’ of existing threats to international peace and security," Uhuru said.

He asked the international community to support Africa’s climate change mitigation efforts by linking existing early warming systems with decision-making tools so as to prevent conflicts.

Ambassador Kamau said drawing attention to the issues on peace and security such as political instability, disruption of socioeconomic development and the effect of climate change on peace and security, Kenya aims to engage diplomats in finding long-term solutions amidst Covid-19 pandemic.

"Through working with other AUPSC members, Kenya hopes to promote peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthen its diplomatic representation and promote its image internationally as well as enhance cooperation between the AU, regional organisations and the UN," the envoy said. 

On regional security, she noted that Kenya contributes troops to peacekeeping missions such as Amisom which is crucial to Kenya’s national security owing to the geographical proximity of the peacekeeping mission to the country’s borders.

Kenya has, however, been criticised over its silence on the Tigray problem and Somalia's political deadlock.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken  this month urged Kenya to work with America on the UN Security Council and in other venues to address the crisis in Tigray.

In a phone call with Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo, Blinken acknowledged Kenya’s strong and durable multilateral engagement and welcomed the opportunity to cooperate closely with Kenya on the UN Security Council on matters of international concern.

And while Omamo in a joint statement with her Algeria counterpart Sabri Boukadoum called for the extension of Amisom mandate, she avoided the electoral process, in which Igad, AU and international partners have waded into.

With March being the women's month, Kamau said Kenya will ensure that their empowerment and that of girls is upheld.

"Through the AUPSC chairmanship, Kenya, led by the Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs [Raychelle Omamo] will chair an open session on women, peace, culture and gender inclusivity in Africa," she said.