Kenya wants Africa’s security architecture renewed

President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for collaboration between the United Nations, the African Union, and Regional Economic Blocs to renew Africa's security architecture. According to President Kenyatta, the solidarity and cooperation between the various institutions would help the continent overcome the multiple challenges facing it: insecurity, Covid-19, and the effects of climate change. “Together, we can enable African states and regions to overcome insecurity in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, Central Africa and in countries dealing with dangerous insurgent and terrorist groups,” President Kenyatta said. Kenyatta spoke when he chaired a virtual United Nations Security Council high-level debate on cooperation between the United Nations, Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations with a special focus on the African Union on Thursday, October 28, 2021. He called for a rethinking of peacekeeping in Africa, noting that for the efforts to be effective, there is a need for synchrony between continental responses and UN peacekeeping missions, and called for more inclusivity. "We will successfully overcome our insecurity when we combine military action with fundamental governance reforms that deliver inclusivity, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or economic status. “Inclusivity in service delivery, competent and non-partisan civil services, fair policies and legislation are key,” President Kenyatta said. At the same time, the Head of State decried the recent upsurge in coups in Africa, saying they have exacerbated insecurity and instability on the continent. On climate change, President Kenyatta said African countries should embrace green investments in sectors such as renewable energy. The President added that the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-26) in Glasgow, Scotland, should produce tangible and transformative investments in climate adaptation to allow for strong green growth in Africa. Other speakers, including Presidents Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana) and Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (Viet Nam), as well as Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, emphasized the need for the application of African solutions to security challenges facing the continent.