Egypt was elected as a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council for a two-year term, with 179 votes received.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed to New York Monday to take part in the United Nations Security Council election, which took place on Thursday.

Last August, more than 50 UN representatives met with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi , as Egypt has expressed good chances of getting the seat; it has a good record in the Security Council.

In an April visit to New York, Shoukry discussed Egypt’s candidacy for the North Africa non-permanent UNSC seat, and described how it would “guarantee the presence of Arab representation in the Security Council”.

Egypt has acquired Arab support for its bid since the Arab League’s ministerial meetings in March 2013, as well as African support, garnered during the African Summit in January 2015, Shoukry had stated during the April visit.

Egypt was a founding member of the United Nations, and has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council on four occasions: 1946, 1949-1950, 1984-1985, and 1996-1997.