Antigua and Barbuda and Kenya Establish Diplomatic Relations

KIGALI, Rwanda – 23rd June 2022 Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday established formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kenya during a signing ceremony held at the Kigali Conference Centre on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Antigua and Barbuda was represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade, the Honourable E.P. Chet Greene. Kenya was represented by Ambassador Raychelle Awuor Omamo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya. Foreign Minister Omamo is also Kenya’s candidate for the post of President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. 

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Antigua and Barbuda and Kenya represents a strong commitment by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to strengthen its bilateral ties with countries in Africa. Both Antigua and Barbuda and Kenya share a strategic vision to advance the interests of sustainable development, trade, peace and the prosperity of their people. Further, both nations have enjoyed close working relations within multilateral organisations such as the Commonwealth and the United Nations. Currently, Antigua and Barbuda and Kenya are Co-Chairs of the Sustainable Blue Economy Action Group within the Commonwealth.

Minister Greene stated that “the signing of this agreement represents an important milestone in the relationship between the Government and people of Kenya and Antigua and Barbuda”. He further noted that Antigua and Barbuda and Kenya have enjoyed a warm friendship and a shared historical connection rooted in a Pan-African solidarity and identity. He thanked Kenya for its support for Antigua and Barbuda and for championing the causes important to Small Island Developing States like climate change in the multilateral fora.

In September 2021, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, the Honourable Gaston Browne, addressed the inaugural Africa-CARICOM Summit under the theme ‘Unity Across Continents and Oceans: Opportunities for Deepening Integration’. During this summit he expressed his desire for there to be greater diplomatic cooperation between CARICOM and the African Union to include the creation of an annual Africa-CARICOM day to be celebrated on 7th September and the establishment of the Forum of African and Caribbean States (FACTS).