After a contentious debate with South Africa, which claimed Rabat’s human rights record disqualified it from leading the UN Human Rights Council, Morocco prevailed in the vote on Wednesday to take the helm.
In a secret ballot held in Geneva, Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi of South Africa received 17 votes, while Ambassador Omar Zniber of Morocco received 30 votes.
Nkosi said prior to the vote that Morocco’s election would damage the credibility of the body, calling it the “antithesis of what the council stands for.” 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 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…,” the Moroccan foreign ministry said.
In the African group whose turn it was to lead the 47-member council, the vote represents an uncommon public disagreement. Usually, it aims to make decisions as a group.
Part of the conflict centers on Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the Western Sahara, which is home to the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which is vying for independence. Morocco has refuted claims that its opponents there have violated their rights.
Morocco has been courting nations, especially its neighbours in Africa, as part of a larger plan to increase support for its policies regarding the former Spanish territory.
