Ruto, Zelenskyy discuss creation of grain hubs in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 — President William Ruto has proposed the creation of strategic grain hubs in the continent to ease the strain for high food prices as part of measure to promote food security.

The proposal of grain hubs featured in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The two leaders agreed to promote what Zelenskyy called ‘Grain From Ukraine Initiative’ in telephonic talks on Thursday.

Ruto’s conversation with Zelenskyy also touched on the ongoing war in Ukraine triggered by Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022 in an escalation of a confrontation between the two states which begun in 2014.

Zelenskyy lauded Kenya’s “constructive cooperation in the UN” alluding to Kenya’s support as a member of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC).

Nairobi joined ninety-three countries in November 2022 to back a UN resolution that called on Russia to compensate Ukraine for the invasion that has resulted in destruction of critical infrastructure, thousands of deaths and displacement of people.

A/ES-11/L.6, a non-binding resolution, was considered by the UN General Assembly following multiple rounds of talks at the 15-member UNSC where Kenya’s completed its recent two-year term in December 2022.

The resolution called for Russian to “bear the legal consequences” for its invasion of Russia.

Despite having reservations on some aspects of the resolution, Kenya affirmed that “Ukraine has a sovereign right to make claims for damages and loses incurred by virtue of conflict.”

During its two-year tenure at the UNSC, Kenya championed global efforts to end conflicts including in Syria.

In July 2022, Kenya rallied nine other elected members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to back a commitment to advance humanitarian efforts in Syria.

Being one of the 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council at the time, Kenya had assumed as the coordinator of the E-10 — a league comprising of the ten nations elected to the UNSC for two-year terms.

Kenya has also been rooting for the expansion of the UNSC to promote inclusion and make the top organ of the global intergovernmental organization more effective.

In his inaugural address as President during the 77th UN General Assembly in September 2022, Ruto argued the expansion of UNSC from its current membership of fifteen would help confront pressing challenges.

“Given the magnitude and variety of challenges the world continues to confront, a more fit-for-purpose United Nations is urgently needed, that possesses the legitimacy and efficacy in dealing with threats to international peace and security,” Ruto stated in his 40-minute statement.

President Ruto noted that the current UNSC membership structure providing for five permanent members wielding veto power and 10 non-permanent members elected by regional blocs undermined the council’s democratic standing and hence its effectiveness.

“A just and inclusive world order cannot be spearheaded by a United Nations Security Council that persistently and unjustly fails the inclusivity criterion. Similarly, threats to democracy will not be credibly resolved by an undemocratic and unrepresentative Security Council,” he told the General Assembly.

Ruto said Kenya remained “firmly committed to reforming the Security Council to make it a more effective, representative and democratic global institution.”

US President Joe Biden made a similar pitch expressing disappointed with the unjustified use of veto power by permanent members.

“I also believe the time has come for this institution to become more inclusive, so they can better respond to the needs of today’s world. Members of the UN security council, including the United States, should consistently uphold and defend the UN charter and refrain from the use of the veto, except in rare, extraordinary situations,” Biden said.