Uhuru Advocates Strengthening of International Law to End Maritime Insecurity

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for the strengthening of the international legal regime and institutions as part of global efforts to combat maritime insecurity.

He appealed for the cessation of geopolitical rivalries, saying that tensions between nations were creating an environment that aids the menace.

“Competition between established and rising powers leaves us all, worse off. Instead, we need a strengthened emphasis on observing international law and resisting the lure of promoting proxy rivalries in pursuit of narrow interests,” he said.

The Head of State spoke on Monday, 9th August, during the virtual United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on maritime security. The meeting was chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country holds this month’s UNSC presidency.

Noting that threats such as terrorism, piracy, and robbery at sea were predominantly a factor of land-based instability, President Kenyatta proposed the establishment of secure maritime routes and economic zones by strengthening the potential of countries to resolve domestic and regional security challenges.

“…international cooperation should prioritise equipping and training effective national coast guards. A properly contextualised regional and sub-regional approach is the way to go,” the President said.

He reminded the UNSC that rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions occasioned by climate change threaten the existence of some small island states and coastal populations, saying that the challenge requires urgent international attention.

“Therefore, successful global climate change adaptation and mitigation is key to the security of these states,” he said.

The Kenyan leader encouraged innovative free and fair trade regimes in areas such as the Indian Ocean Rim, and expressed confidence that new approaches would deliver economic prosperity to the world’s poorest economies.

The President said Kenya would continue to champion environmentally friendly and sustainable utilisation of blue economy resources, noting that, the first-ever global sustainable blue economy conference was held in Nairobi.

The November 2018 conference was co-hosted by Kenya, Canada, and Japan, and brought together delegates from 184 countries to deliberate on the sustainability of the global blue economy.

“Kenya, therefore, welcomes this debate as a continuing conversation on the subject and the council’s (UNSC) contribution to the attainment of the aspirations of the 2018 Nairobi Sustainable Blue Economy Conference,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi commended Kenya for being an important voice in the sustainable utilisation of the blue economy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Pham Minch Chinh of Vietnam, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken were the other key speakers at the virtual meeting.

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