The Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Macharia KAMAU, CBS, presided over the opening ceremonies of the Kenya-Mozambique UN Security Council Consultations, on Monday, April 11th, 2022 in Nairobi. The catalyst for these talks is the impending two-year, non-permanent term of the Republic of Mozambique to the UN Security Council, which is set to commence on January 1st, 2023, as well as Kenya’s ongoing non-permanent term.
The visit by the delegation of Mozambique, which is being led by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Francisco Neto NOVELA and accompanied by H.E. Mr. Casimiro Augusto MUEIO, the Permanent Secretary for National Defense of Mozambique, dovetails appropriately with the outcomes of the 983rd meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council that was held on March 4th, 2021, during Kenya’s successful chairmanship. This meeting, held under the theme of “Unified role of the African Members in the United Nations (UN) Security Council (A3) in the UN Security Council”, noted that the unified voice of the A3 in the UN Security Council can only be as strong as the voice of the AU Peace and Security Council. Similarly, the consultations are also informed by the need for integrating African efforts in order to create the necessary synergies, which are vital for non-permanent members of the Council. This is also consistent with His Excellency President Uhuru KENYATTA’s pan Africanist vision that continues to guide and direct Kenya’s Foreign Policy dispensation.
While congratulating Mozambique upon her impending entry into the Council, Amb. Macharia Kamau also commended the Mozambican government’s initiative and determination to the exchange of views and experiences before the country’s deserved installation in January 2023. In addition, Amb. Kamau reiterated the importance of early and advanced planning, as well as the need for proper and effective coordination across government, in what was advocated as a whole-of-government approach to Council matters.
H.E. Mr. Francisco Neto NOVELA thanked his counterpart, Amb. Kamau, for the cordial reception accorded to the delegation of Mozambique and also for Kenya’s willingness to share experiences and lessons learnt at the Council. Permanent Secretary Novela further pointed to the composition of the Mozambican delegation as a demonstration of the seriousness that the government of Mozambique attached to their consultations with Kenya on Council matters.
