Kenya defeated Djibouti to get a seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) after the UN General Assembly (UNGA) failed to make the decision between the two candidates during the first round. Voting had been made for the 15-member council’s Africa seat, Kenya received 129 votes against Djibouti’s 62 on Thursday.
A first-round vote was held the previous day and both countries failed to receive the required two-thirds majority of 128 votes. Kenya has joined countries like Norway, Ireland, India and Mexico, as non-permanent members for a two-year term starting on January 1, 2021, they were elected on Wednesday. To avoid gatherings and ensure social distancing, ambassadors were made to wear masks and were given time slots for voting and spread out in the chamber to mark their ballots.
Data source: UNSC Report