Sports CS Amina Mohamed dealt blow in race to head WTO

Sports CS Amina Mohamed’s hopes of heading the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have been dealt a blow after the European Union chose to back Nigerian and South Korean contenders. 

The announcement on Monday in Brussels, Belgium may not directly mean that Ms Mohamed is out of the race yet, but it came just 48 hours to the pronouncement by the WTO of the final two contenders, who will battle it out for the seat.

The global trade refereeing body, which has 164 member states, is today (Wednesday) expected to announce two out of the remaining five candidates who will proceed to the final round of the vote.

This is after it received the "broadest and deepest support from the WTO membership." 

On Monday, the 27-member European Union endorsed Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea to battle it out in the final round.

Other candidates include Mr Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of Saudi Arabia and Dr Liam Fox of the UK.

‘Best candidate’

The EU, a diplomatic source told the Nation, was looking for the "best candidate" while staying on the safe side.

By choosing two women, one from South Korea (a developed country) and the other from Nigeria (a developing country), the European bloc wants to ensure a woman leads the WTO for the first time regardless of the region she comes from, according to the source.

Ms Mohamed has campaigned vigorously and directly to countries, including EU's member states. On Sunday, the East African Community announced it was backing her.

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta lobbied for her acceptance when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

No vote at WTO

The WTO, not a United Nations organisation, usually makes decisions based on consensus from member states. This means that the European Union has no vote at the WTO.

But its influence comes in the way it has representatives at the organisation in Geneva, and the fact that it routinely signs trade agreements with countries across the world.

In fact, it is common practice for candidates to seek endorsement from blocs. The Nigerian, for example, had already been endorsed by the West African bloc, Ecowas.

Wednesday’s announcement will come following three weeks of consultations between envoys of the WTO’s 164-member states, with each nominating two best candidates from among the five. The names that appear most times signal consensus around the candidate.

According to Rules WT/L/509, which guide elections of the director-general, member states consult "to identify the candidate around whom consensus can be built." So members can consult as many times.

"It is understood that the candidate or candidates least likely to attract consensus shall withdraw," the rules say.

"The number of candidates expected to withdraw at each stage shall be determined according to the initial number of candidates, and made known in advance. This process shall be repeated in successive stages on the basis of a revised slate of candidates each time, with the aim of establishing consensus around one candidate."

But since its creation in 1995, the WTO has never been led by an African or a woman.