Kenya seeks Moroccan support for UN Security Council seat

Kenya has sought the support of Morocco in her bid for the membership of the UN Security Council.

“As you are aware, Kenya is vying for a Non-Permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the period 2021-2022 and therefore requests for Morocco’s support for this candidature,” said Kenyan Foreign Affairs representative for African Opinion Mr Arthur Adambi.

He welcomed the decision of Morocco to rejoin the African Union saying this gives us an opportunity as the African family to pursue a unified agenda and speak with one voice.

Mr Adambi recalled the role Morocco played as the focal point for the African liberation movement - the Casablanca Group. 

“This paved way for the unification of African states through Pan Africanism and led to the launch of the then Organization of African Union,” he said in a speech on behalf of the Foreign C.S Dr Juma during the occasion of the 20th anniversary of coronation of King Mohammed IV as King of Morooco.

Speaking at the same event in Nairobi, Moroccan Ambassador to Kenya Mokhtar Ghambou noted that in two decades of His Majesty’s reign, Morocco has firmly placed itself on the irreversible track of progress.   

“We have no oil or gas, as you know, but that didn’t prevent us from building the largest solar energy plant in the world, from having the fastest train in Africa and the Arab world, and from having the largest port in Africa and the Mediterranean,” he said enumerating his countries progress.

Inspired by King Mohammed's pioneering and visionary approach of 'South-South Cooperation', Morocco puts Africa and African issues at the top of its strategy for regional and continental development. He said.

For example, over 1500 cooperation agreement have been signed with more than 30 other African countries, making Morocco the second African investor in Africa, and the first in West Africa.

Moroccan universities receive 11000 African students annually, with 10000 of them benefiting from our governments’ scholarships.

“When n I was the Foreign Affairs Minister I organized for more than 20 students to study in Morocco on full scholarships and because Morocco also has some of the best educational foundations in continent,“ said C.S Raphael Tuju who was present at the event.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Chairman Dr Yussuf Nzibo reiterated that his organization has benefited as among the 1400 African imams and religious scholars to help them counter the false ideologies of violence and extremism in their own societies.

“We have had various meeting s in mitigating violent extremism including meeting the King of Morocco three times and that has been very useful in our programmes back home,” Said Dr Nzibo.

The UN Under-Secretary-general and Executive Director of UN HABITAT Maimunah Mohd Sharif lauded Morocco for her programme on housing that has seen the eradication of slums in the country.

“We are glad to associate ourselves with these kind of progress that is geared toward the decent housing of all peoples in the World,” she said.

Ambassador Mokhtar recalled how the King established in 2013 the migration and asylum initiative to address the new situation of Morocco shifting from a country of transit to a country of residence.

“Thanks to the Royal Initiative, 50 000 illegal migrants and refugees have become legal residents so far, with access to education, healthcare, and affordable housing, just like the citizens of Morocco,” he said.

Because of Morocco’s peace and stability and hospitality the country attracts 12 million visitors per year.