… lauded Kenya's growing role in regional and continental affairs, saying, "I have a lot of admiration for Kenya because it is very integral in Africa's position regarding the East African Community, the African Union, and championing reforms at the United Nations Security Council …
… "If negotiations reach a final agreement during the 60-day period, this agreement is expected to be approved by a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council," the draft said. …
… Further, they reaffirmed the urgent need for reforms to the multilateral system, including the United Nations Security Council, to be more responsive to the needs of Africa and the entire Global South. …
… The Delhi meeting also reflected many of India’s strategic priorities, including stronger language on United Nations Security Council reform, food security, digital public infrastructure, disaster management and counterterrorism cooperation. …
… The President also called for reform of the United Nations Security Council, saying it was unfair that 1.5 billion people across 54 African countries do not have representation. …
… The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals was established by the United Nations Security Council in 2010 to continue the work of the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) following their closure.
… The Mechanism, established by the United Nations Security Council in 2010 through Resolution 1966, was created to continue the jurisdiction and functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) after …
… The Secretary General believes that Africa’s inclusion in the global system is also through changes in the United Nations Security Council, where African countries do not have permanent membership and veto powers. …
… The Secretary General believes that Africa’s inclusion in the global system is also through changes in the United Nations Security Council, where African countries do not have permanent membership and veto powers. …
The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The agreement commits both sides to negotiate a final deal within 60 days and includes the US beginning removal of its blockade on Iranian ports within 30 days.
The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The agreement commits both sides to negotiate a final deal within 60 days and includes the US beginning removal of its blockade on Iranian ports within 30 days.
President William Ruto represented Kenya at the G7 Summit in Évian, France (15–17 June 2026), positioning Kenya as an agenda-shaping partner. He argued for a shift away from aid dependency toward mutually beneficial partnerships and investment-driven development, and stated that Africa can no longer be viewed through a deficit lens in global decision-making.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre's four-year tenure has seen notable progress in governance, diplomacy and economic reform, including $4.5 billion in debt relief under the HIPC Initiative in December 2023, but Somalia continues to face challenges in security, federal relations and climate resilience.
China's foreign minister told Pakistan that the second phase of US-Iran negotiations, which Pakistan has helped mediate and which are set to produce a memorandum of understanding on Friday, will be "more difficult" than the first stage. Wang Yi said the current consensus is a new starting point, not a final destination, and called for greater UN Security Council involvement and sustained efforts from all parties toward lasting Middle East peace.
President William Ruto has called for Africa's inclusion in reforming international financial and governance institutions, including the UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank, arguing these institutions need to be democratised for the benefit of all nations. He made the remarks during a media interview in Evian, France, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
Kenya and Finland have signed memoranda of understanding on education (covering technical and vocational training, teacher development, and competency-based learning), digital innovation (digitisation of public services and digital transformation), and climate action (climate change resilience, environmental sustainability, and green growth). President William Ruto witnessed the ceremony with President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki on June 10, 2026.
President William Ruto oversaw the signing of three major cooperation agreements with Finland during a State Visit to Helsinki, covering education, technology, and climate action. The agreements are expected to deepen bilateral relations through practical collaboration in TVET, digital transformation, and climate initiatives.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected claims of xenophobia during President William Ruto's state visit to Pretoria, instead framing migration as a continental challenge requiring African-led solutions and deeper economic integration. Ramaphosa acknowledged migration was placing pressure on communities and public services but stressed the issue was not unique to South Africa and required collective action from African governments.
A guided-missile destroyer foiled a suspected piracy attempt on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, the latest sign of renewed aggression from Somali pirate networks that had been suppressed over the past decade but are now showing fresh activity, including an oil tanker firing warning shots at suspicious vessels near Yemen's Socotra Island.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation held a geopolitical academy in Nairobi with 21 participants to discuss how changing global power dynamics and competing great powers affect Kenya and Africa's position in the emerging world order. Speakers emphasized that geopolitical shifts—from regional wars to economic pressures—directly impact daily life across the continent and determine whether Africa becomes a key player or remains sidelined.
Iran and the United States appeared to be cautiously moving toward a deal to end the war that began in late February, with diplomatic exchanges continuing despite mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and a military flare-up this week. Iranian state television published a draft outline of a potential memorandum of understanding, which Washington dismissed as a "complete fabrication."
Kenya and Kazakhstan have signed bilateral agreements during President William Ruto's State Visit to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, with the agreements positioning Kenya as Kazakhstan's anchor nation in East and Central Africa and Kazakhstan as Kenya's gateway to Central Asia.
The BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi on May 14–15 failed to produce a traditional joint communiqué due to deep divisions over the West Asia conflict, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE aligned with the United States and Israel, while Iran opposed. The 11 member states and 10 partner countries instead issued a Chair's Statement and Outcome Document reflecting unresolved disagreements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and maritime navigation rights.
President William Ruto has called for stronger African multilateral financing and reform of the global financial architecture to tackle the housing crisis driven by rapid urbanisation. He highlighted that Africa will be home to 25 per cent of the world's population by 2050, with 70 per cent living in urban areas, making affordable housing urgent and essential.
Félicien Kabuga, a Rwandan businessman accused of financing and supporting the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, has died while hospitalized in The Hague. The UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals confirmed his death and ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances.
Félicien Kabuga, a Rwandan businessman facing charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, incitement to genocide, and crimes against humanity, has died while hospitalized in The Hague, Netherlands. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances of his death.
President William Ruto challenged the global financial status quo at the Africa Forward Summit, arguing that African countries must be treated as equal partners in economic discussions with development partners and have moved beyond a donor aid relationship.
At the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, UN Secretary General António Guterres argued that Africa remains underrepresented in the global multilateral system and produces solutions to global risks like climate emergencies, yet continues to be sidelined.
President William Ruto told the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi that Africa cannot continue depending on foreign aid to finance development, and must instead focus on investment, innovation and mobilizing local resources. Ruto also criticized the international financial system for imposing high borrowing costs and unfair risk assessments on African countries, and backed creation of an Africa Credit Rating Agency to correct distortions in risk perception.
António Guterres has arrived in Nairobi for the Africa Forward Summit 2026, a two-day gathering co-hosted by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron. Over 30 African Heads of State and Government are expected to attend, with discussions focused on sustainable development, economic cooperation, innovation, and Africa's transformation agenda.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Kenya on May 11, 2026, to join President William Ruto in launching a USD 340 million expansion project at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in Gigiri, designed to modernise facilities and boost the city's role as a global diplomatic hub.
The last group of Kenyan police officers deployed under a UN-mandated security mission in Haiti has returned home, concluding Kenya's nearly two-year overseas deployment. Former National Security Advisor Monica Juma praised the officers for their service and said they had helped stabilize Haiti and earned Kenya recognition internationally.
Kenya has officially ended its deployment to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support Mission, with 730 police officers withdrawn. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen praised the 18-month operation for reducing gang violence, restoring public services, and enabling a peaceful transfer of power in February 2026.
The final contingent of 150 Kenyan police officers deployed under the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti arrived back in Kenya on April 28, marking the end of the country's participation in the mission. The officers had remained in Haiti to oversee a handover process as operations shift to the Gang Suppression Force.