A rare rift within the African Union has thrown the United Nations Human Rights Council into disarray, with South Africa and Morocco locked in a fierce battle for its presidency. Ahead of Wednesday’s secret ballot, South Africa has leveled heavy accusations against Morocco, questioning its human rights record and fitness to lead the prestigious body.
This marks the second time in the Council’s 17-year history that it has been left without a leader at the start of the year. Normally, the 47-member council, consisting of regional groups, operates by consensus when selecting its rotating president. However, the African Union’s usual cohesion has fractured on this occasion, leading to an unprecedented public dispute.
At the heart of the rift lies the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where Morocco claims sovereignty but faces a self-determination movement backed by Algeria. South Africa, a vocal proponent of Sahrawi self-determination, accuses Morocco of human rights abuses against its opponents in the region and asserts that its candidacy undermines the very principles the Council upholds.
“For a country with all these challenges to aspire to be the face of the Human Rights Council, and God forbid if they get elected, this will shatter whatever shred of legitimacy this council ever had,” declared South Africa’s ambassador, Mxolisi Nkosi.
Morocco, in turn, dismisses these criticisms as “lies and propaganda” and emphasizes its long-standing support for the African Union and significant progress on human rights. Backed by months-old AU backing, Moroccan ambassador Omar Zniber maintains that his country is a law-abiding nation capable of leading the Council effectively.
However, South Africa’s ambassador counters this narrative, drawing upon his nation’s history of overcoming apartheid and its role as a global bridge-builder. “Our record speaks for itself,” insists Nkosi, painting his country as a more fitting representative of the Council’s human rights ideals.
With no clear indication of who will emerge victorious, the vote on Wednesday promises to be a tense affair. The outcome will not only determine the Council’s leadership for the coming year but also serve as a test of the African Union’s internal unity and its commitment to the cause of human rights on the global stage.
Beyond the prestige of the presidency itself, the Council’s annual leadership carries significant weight. The position grants the leader influence in setting the agenda, prioritizing issues, and directing the body’s investigations and reports. For ambitious ambassadors, it can serve as a powerful springboard for future diplomatic careers.
The Council, convening several times a year in Geneva, remains the world’s sole intergovernmental body dedicated to the protection of human rights. It holds governments accountable for their records, scrutinizes specific situations, and even authorizes investigations into alleged violations. Thus, the choice of its leader carries immense symbolic and practical significance, impacting the global spotlight on human rights issues and setting the tone for the council’s work in the coming year.
With South Africa and Morocco locked in a heated contest, the vote on Wednesday holds the potential to be a landmark moment for the Human Rights Council, sending out a message about its priorities and direction. Whether Morocco, backed by the African Union, can overcome South Africa’s staunch opposition, or whether the latter’s accusations of human rights violations will sway the voting members, remains to be seen. The eyes of the world will be focused on Geneva as the Council chooses its leader, a decision with far-reaching implications for the global fight for human rights.
