Politics

Morocco defeats South Africa to become leader of UN Human Rights Council

Published

12 months ago

January 10, 2024

South Africa on Wednesday lost the ballot to lead the United Nations Human Rights Council after a close contest with North Africa’s Morocco.

South Africa’s argument that Morocco’s human rights record made it unfit to preside over the body counted for little as Moroccan candidate, Ambassador Omar Zniber, got 30 votes, while his rival, Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi of South Africa secured 17 votes in a secret ballot in Geneva.

Nkosi told reporters before the vote that Morocco was the “antithesis of what the council stands for” and that the election of that nation would damage the organization’s reputation. In response, Morocco claimed that South Africa and a few other African nations were undermining its attempts to occupy the prestigious but largely symbolic position.

The Moroccan foreign ministry said in reaction to the victory that “the Kingdom’s election, supported by a large number of countries around the globe in spite of Algeria’s and South Africa’s efforts to counter it, demonstrates the trust and the credibility inspired by Morocco’s external actions”.

Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the Western Sahara, a region where the Algeria-backed Polisario Front is vying for independence, is at the centre of the dispute between the two nations, with Morocco refuting claims that they have been subjected to violations of their rights in its pursuit.

In an effort to gain support for its policies regarding the former Spanish territory, Morocco has been courting nations, particularly its neighbours in Africa. However, it has not been successful in winning over South Africa, which last year assisted in arranging an event in Geneva to support the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.

Rights groups say Morocco’s new role should prompt it to safeguard human rights at the highest level. Tess McEvoy, the Co-Director of the New York office of the International Service for Human Rights advocacy, group stressed that “in particular, Morocco must refrain from intimidating or carrying out reprisals against human rights defenders engaging with the U.N.”

The United Nations Human Rights Council is the only intergovernmental global body tasked with safeguarding human rights everywhere. It meets multiple times a year. It can authorise investigations and heighten the examination of nations’ human rights records.

Related Topics:Featured Morocco South Africa United Nations Human Rights

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.