Guyana supports Zimbabwe’s bid for non-permanent seat on UNSC

Guyana is supporting Zimbabwe’s bid for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2027-2028. This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued on Monday, following a visit from Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe, Professor Amon Murwira. The Zimbabwean Foreign Minister was in Guyana for an official two-day visit from March 19-20. During his visit, he held substantive talks with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd.

“The discussions between the Foreign Ministers focused on initiatives to deepen and strengthen the relations between Guyana and Zimbabwe, CARICOM-African Union relations, modalities for technical cooperation between Guyana and Zimbabwe, especially in the area of agriculture and the experience of Guyana on the United Nations Security Council during the period 2024 to 2025,” the Ministry’s statement detailed. It added that Todd provided detailed briefings to the Zimbabwean delegation on the origins of and the process of Guyana’s case against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Guyana’s proposal for a mechanism to facilitate and strengthen cooperation with Zimbabwe and Guyana’s experience on the Security Council and contributions during its tenure on the UNSC. According to the Ministry, the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister’s visit to Guyana forms part of his country’s diplomatic efforts to garner support for its candidature to for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for the period 2027-2028. “Minister Todd assured his Zimbabwean counterpart of Guyana’s full support,” the statement noted. Membership in the UNSC, even in a non-permanent capacity, grants countries a platform to contribute to global peace and security discussions. For Zimbabwe, this represents an opportunity to reshape its international image. Historically, the country has faced diplomatic isolation, illegal sanctions and allegations of political instability. A seat on the UNSC will enable Zimbabwe to demonstrate its commitment to peace, security and international cooperation. Guyana formally concluded its two-year term as an elected non-permanent member of the UNSC at midnight on December 31, 2025.
During Guyana’s tenure, which began on January 1, 2024, and was guided by the overarching theme of “Partnering for Peace and Prosperity”, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, sat before the UNSC. According to the Government, Guyana’s tenure on the Council coincided with a period of profound global and regional upheaval, including the war in Ukraine; the conflict in Gaza; violence in Sudan; the spread of terrorism and violent extremism across the Sahel; the Taliban’s intensified repression of women’s rights in Afghanistan; and the protracted conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, the Security Council also confronted severe humanitarian and political crises in Haiti, Syria, Yemen and Myanmar, alongside emerging developments in the Caribbean Sea. In 2025, renewed tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as between Cambodia and Thailand, further strained international security. The Council also faced difficult decisions on financing African Union–led peace operations while also addressing worsening food insecurity in conflict-affected regions. Its agenda included issues such as cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel, the future of multilateralism, and peacekeeping reform. During its tenure, Guyana presided over the Security Council in February 2024 and again in June 2025. Under Guyana’s presidency, two signature events focused on “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security” (February 2024) and “Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Conflict: Implications for International Peace and Security” (June 2025).
Guyana also played a notable role in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, the Climate Peace and Security Agenda, the Youth Peace and Security Agenda, and the Children and Armed Conflict file. It worked closely with Switzerland and Slovenia to draw attention to conflict-induced food insecurity as an informal co-focal point on conflict and hunger. Also, during its tenure on the Security Council, Guyana pursued an active and collaborative approach, working closely with elected members and regional partners to advance inclusive, principled, and pragmatic responses to international peace and security challenges. Among the key actions and contributions during Guyana’s tenure was the A3+ Collaboration. Guyana worked closely with the African members of the Council – Algeria, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone in 2024, and Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia in 2025 – under the A3+ Mechanism. Together, the A3+ partners co-authored resolutions, Presidential Statements and press statements on situations including Sudan, Libya, Benin and the Guyana–Venezuela controversy. Engagement with Elected Members (E10) was another achievement during its term. Guyana coordinated with the 10 elected members to advocate for ceasefires and expanded humanitarian access in Gaza, including the co-authorship of several resolutions addressing the situation.
Further, Guyana co-authored with Sierra Leone a landmark resolution on Youth, Peace and Security aimed at strengthening the mainstreaming of youth across the peace and security agenda. The resolution calls, inter alia, for enhanced youth participation and leadership in peace processes, conflict prevention, peace-building, recovery, and reconstruction at all levels and was unanimously adopted by the Council on December 12, 2025. Guyana also chaired the Security Council Sanctions Committees on Haiti and Guinea-Bissau and served as Vice Chair of the Committees concerning Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. It also actively contributed to the work of other subsidiary bodies. Similarly, Guyana helped to organise and lead several high-level briefings, debates and expert engagements, including a Security Council mission to Colombia in February 2024 and an informal expert field mission to Chad in December 2025. Guyana also convened the annual open debate on Children and Armed Conflict. Moreover, Guyana served as coordinator for the E10 group (October 2024 and October 2025), the A3+ group (January–March 2025), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Caucus in the Security Council. In this capacity, Guyana worked closely with CARICOM and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to elevate regional perspectives and priorities.
During Guyana’s period of service, the Security Council adopted 90 resolutions, 15 Presidential Statements, 77 press statements and 21 notes by the President, all of which were the subject of negotiation.