Multilateral governance body subject to African calls for permanent representation reform, with five permanent members holding veto power over key decisions.
… The President said these institutions need to be democratised, including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, for the benefit of all nations. …
… On global issues, both leaders agreed to continue pressing for urgent reforms of the United Nations Security Council to include representation from Africa. …
… Subscribe to our newsletterOn global governance, the two leaders reiterated their call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure fair representation for Africa. …
… The visit also underscored a shared push for reforms of global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council and international financial institutions, with both leaders arguing that Africa deserves greater representation in global decision-making. …
… The intervention of EUNAVFOR (European Union Naval Force) with the authorisation of the United Nations Security Council reduced the spate of hijacking in the Gulf of Aden and, for a while, ensured vessels passed through without any worries The Gulf of Aden is an important maritim …
… 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. …
President Ruto told the UN General Assembly that Africa's 54 nations remain permanently excluded from Security Council permanent membership despite being frequently subject to its decisions, and called for reform to give the continent equitable and permanent representation with all associated privileges.
President Ruto told the UN General Assembly that Africa's 54 nations remain permanently excluded from Security Council permanent membership despite being frequently subject to its decisions, and called for reform to give the continent equitable and permanent representation with all associated privileges.
President William Ruto told the UN General Assembly that inconsistent application of international law and unequal power within the UN are undermining trust in the multilateral system, and that credibility depends on whether rules are applied consistently rather than invoked selectively.
Kenya's government condemned escalating missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi movement, warning they threaten regional stability and violate international humanitarian law, and called for immediate cessation of hostilities and protection of maritime trade in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned escalating missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, calling for immediate cessation of hostilities and implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Yemen. The government also expressed concern over threats to maritime trade in the Red Sea and reaffirmed support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty.
Wadid Benaabou has started his assignment as France's Ambassador-designate to Kenya, succeeding Arnaud Suquet. Benaabou, officially appointed in August 2026, brings experience in multilateral diplomacy and previously served in senior roles at France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN Security Council delegation.
Members of Kenya's Congolese community have called on the government to investigate alleged recruitment, mobilisation and fundraising activities by the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 movement in Nairobi, urging that Kenya's democratic freedoms not be exploited to fuel the conflict in eastern DRC.
A senior UN official told the Security Council that violence in the occupied West Bank has escalated in the past week, resulting in civilian casualties, displacement, and property damage, with Israeli settler attacks against Palestinian communities persisting at alarming levels.
Uganda has nominated veteran diplomat Ambassador Olara Otunnu for United Nations Secretary-General, a position to be filled as current Secretary-General António Guterres' term ends December 31. Otunnu has more than four decades of experience in international diplomacy and previously served as the UN's first Under-Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict from 1998 to 2005.
Four women and two men are running to become the next UN Secretary-General, with Rafael Grossi of Argentina (current head of the UN nuclear watchdog), Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal among the contenders. The Security Council's five permanent members—the US, Britain, China, France, and Russia—have veto power over the selection.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime warned Monday that Haiti faces an escalating governance crisis as armed gangs increasingly replace state authority and seize control of key institutions and economic lifelines, calling for urgent international action beyond security operations to dismantle the criminal networks driving the country's collapse.
Boris Nadezhdin, the only anti-war Russian politician planning to run in September parliamentary elections, was detained and said Tuesday the Kremlin wants to "crush" his campaign. He has been summoned to court on administrative charges of "displaying extremist symbols" and was previously declared a "foreign agent" by authorities.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called for stronger political and financial backing for the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), arguing that sustainable African-led financing is needed to maintain security gains against Al-Shabaab and reduce reliance on external funding.
The African Union Commission and Russian Federation have renewed calls for UN Security Council reforms to give Africa permanent representation, describing the current system as a "historical injustice." Both sides pledged to deepen strategic cooperation ahead of an Africa-Russia Summit scheduled for October in Moscow.
The United States announced it will withdraw support for the United Nations Support Office in Somalia after 2026, a move that could affect peace operations in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. UNSOS provides air transport, engineering, medical support and equipment to African Union forces; its withdrawal would require the AU and troop-contributing countries to find alternative funding and support arrangements.
Sudan's Peace Government has accused the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied militias of preventing residents from leaving El Obeid, using civilians as human shields, and forcing civilians to participate in military operations. The government called for international pressure to allow civilians to leave freely and for the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors.
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.