GENEVA: South Africa and Morocco are battling to win the presidency of the United Nations’ top human rights body ahead of a vote today (Wednesday), Western media reported.
South Africa has been accusing Morocco of committing human rights violations in Western Sahara and said the country has no credibility to lead the global body.
This is the second time in the UN Human Rights Council’s 17-year history, that it has been left without a president at the beginning of the year. It is the African group’s turn to lead the 47-member council.
Presidency of the council is a prestigious but symbolic post.
Morocco dismisses allegations of rights abuses
Morocco claims its sovereignty over Western Sahara, whereas the Algeria-backed Polisario Front is seeking independence. Morocco has dismissed allegations of rights abuses against its opponents there.
The country has been courting other nations, including African neighbors, to support its policies for the former Spanish territory.
However, it has failed to win over South Africa which organized an event to promote self-determination for the Sahrawi people in Geneva last year.
South Africa’s envoy Mxolisi Nkosi told Reuters that because of its past record of overcoming apartheid it is a strong candidate to lead the council.
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Morocco’s candidate ambassador Omar Zniber said his country is a law-abiding nation that had made significant progress on human rights. He termed criticism of its Western Sahara policies as propaganda and lies.
The council is the only intergovernmental international body to protect human rights across the world and can increase scrutiny of nations’ human rights records and authorize investigations.
