SEOUL, South Korea – Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, has called for renewed commitment to multilateralism, stronger Africa-Korea cooperation, and enhanced Global South solidarity as Kenya positions itself to play a more influential role in an increasingly fragmented global order.
Speaking at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul on Tuesday, at the invitation of University President Ji-Beom Yoo and Political Science Dean Wonbin Cho, Mudavadi outlined Kenya’s foreign policy vision under the theme, “From Regional Anchor to Global Influence: Kenya’s Strategic Foreign Policy Outlook in an Evolving World Order.”
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said rising geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and weakening international cooperation are forcing African nations to reassess their diplomatic and economic strategies.
“We still confront the hard realities of an increasingly volatile global landscape with far-reaching implications for the global economic and security architecture,” Mudavadi said.
He warned that the global order is under significant strain, citing the resurgence of unilateralism, the growing use of sanctions, trade disputes, and the militarization of international relations.
“Multilateralism is under strain as unilateralism resurges, alongside the weaponization of tariffs and the expansion of sanctions regimes,” he noted.
Mudavadi expressed concern that diplomacy is increasingly being replaced by transactional approaches, arguing that international relations should be anchored on mutual respect and cooperation rather than short-term interests.
“Diplomacy is increasingly being treated as a transaction and sovereignty as a negotiable property,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary drew parallels between current global challenges and those faced during the tenure of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, noting that conflicts, climate change, humanitarian crises, and unequal development continue to undermine global stability.
He highlighted the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, and tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, saying these crises have compounded economic hardships across Africa.
“These shocks have underscored the need for deeper integration, diversified partnerships, and enhanced investment in science, technology and innovation,” he said.
Mudavadi also pointed to the humanitarian crises in Sudan and South Sudan, where conflict and climate-related disasters have displaced millions and disrupted education for countless children.
Against this backdrop, he urged African nations to embrace regional integration and reduce dependence on foreign aid.
“African states are charting a forward-looking and people-centred approach driven by diversification in cooperation, trade and investment, rather than aid dependency,” he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary underscored the significance of the African Continental Free Trade Area, describing it as a transformative framework for boosting intra-African trade, strengthening manufacturing, and promoting value addition across the continent.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area offers African countries a unique platform to build regional value chains across diverse sectors, including agri-food and pharmaceuticals,” he said.
Mudavadi also renewed Africa’s call for reforms within global institutions, particularly the United Nations, ahead of the election of the next UN Secretary-General.
“Africa’s position is that multilateralism must be reformed and strengthened, not abandoned,” he stated, adding that the upcoming election could prove pivotal for the future of global cooperation.
“The election can be a make-or-break moment for multilateralism,” he said.
Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mudavadi emphasized that future prosperity will depend on nations’ ability to harness knowledge, science, and innovation.
Turning to bilateral relations, Mudavadi praised the growing partnership between Kenya and South Korea, particularly in technology, education, healthcare research, and industrial development.
He noted that South Korea has played a key role in supporting the development of Konza Technopolis and the establishment of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which is modeled on South Korea’s renowned Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
“The Korean government remains Kenya’s leading partner in technology and the digital economy,” Mudavadi said.
He highlighted Kenya’s emergence as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah,” pointing to the country’s achievements in digital innovation, fintech, and telecommunications, including the global success of the mobile money platform M-Pesa.
Mudavadi further emphasized Kenya’s strategic position as a gateway to East and Central Africa, providing access to a market of more than 1.5 billion consumers under the AfCFTA framework.
He also showcased Nairobi’s growing stature as a diplomatic and financial hub, hosting the United Nations Office at Nairobi, United Nations Environment Programme, UN-Habitat, and regional offices of major international financial institutions.
“In a world where diplomacy is increasingly reduced to transactional exchanges, peace treated as a private enterprise and nations locked in the dignity trap, Kenya chooses a different path,” Mudavadi said.
“We choose partnership over patronage, principle over opportunism, and dialogue over the use of force.”
He concluded by inviting South Korean investors, scholars, and citizens to deepen engagement with Kenya through trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchanges.
“Visit Kenya. Invest in Kenya. Learn with Kenya,” he said. “When Africa and Korea rise together, the world does not merely become safer. It becomes more prosperous.”
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