Kenya reaffirms commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, July 3, 2021 (FBC) – Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Martin Kimani (PhD) has reiterated the commitment of his country to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia.

Addressing the UNSC meeting on Tigray, the Kenyan Permanent representative to the UN said “We reaffirm our respect for and commitment, commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia. We know that the people of Ethiopia have the means and the desire to attain sustained peace, nation building and prosperity”

He added saying: “Now is the time for careful diplomacy, the rapid scale up of humanitarian response, prioritizing people, appreciation of regional stability, and the curbing of misinformation and disinformation”

Kenya also supports the democratic aspiration of the Ethiopian people as expressed in their most recent election.

“We are gratified by the interim reports especially that of the African Union election observer mission, which remarked that the polls were carried out in an eye quote, orderly, peaceful and credible manner.  We hope that the election becomes the foundation of a robust national conversation on peace, cohesion, development and the celebration of diversity and pluralism” he stressed.

Kenya welcomes the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire by the government of Ethiopia and stress that the Security Council and the international community should appreciate this announcement as an opportunity that must be capitalized on.

“We hope that it can be translated into a permanent, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in order to extend humanitarian care to every man, woman and child who needs it in every part of Tigray” he added.

The ceasefire must be heeded and implemented, if we are to implement the silencing of the guns, which Africans have set out in our agenda 2063.

We therefore call on all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities without delay, and to act accordingly by seizing all armed operations, the Kenyan Ambassador said.

“The people and the government of Ethiopia appreciate the instruments of dialogue and reconciliation forged by Africans these past few decades: