Mauritius Elected to U.N. Security Council Seat over Sudan
Holbrooke points to Sudan's human rights abuses
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Mauritius was chosen on October 10 to represent
Africa on the 15-nation Security Council, prevailing over Sudan after
weeks of heavy campaigning and four rounds of balloting in the General
Assembly.
In recent weeks, nations and human rights groups from around the world
had criticized Sudan, which they said engages in numerous human rights
abuses, including slavery, deliberate starvation, and indiscriminate
bombing of civilians.
The General Assembly also elected four other nations to two-year terms
on the council. They are Singapore, Colombia, Ireland, and Norway, the
last of which needed four ballots to edge out Italy for its seat.
Mauritian Ambassador Anung Neewoor thanked those "who placed their
confidence in a small country like Mauritius and thought we could play
a very appropriate role in the Security Council, where we address so
many important issues of world peace and security."
"Africa stands united, as it has always been, and we shall make sure
that in the Security Council, as a candidate elected from the Africa
region, that we ... shall play our role very effectively to address
the African conflicts," he added.
Condemned by governments and human rights groups for its decades-long
civil war against black Africans and Christians in the south, Sudan
claimed to have the backing of the Organization of African Unity
(OAU). Mauritius, which was supported by the United States and human
rights groups, had been a candidate for the council since January and
challenged Sudan's claim to OAU support.
Neewoor said that he appreciated "the support of the United States, as
I appreciate also the support of all other countries that have placed
trust in us. To start with, I had more support from Africa today in
this election ... I had the solid support of all SADC members -- we
are 14 countries in the southern African area."
There was no question of breaking any African consensus on the issue,
he said, recalling that "right from the beginning, I had said there
was no consensus on any candidate; that's why Mauritius maintained its
candidacy."
With 173 nations voting on the first ballot, Mauritius received 95
votes and Sudan 69. On the fourth ballot, in which 168 countries voted
and five abstained, Mauritius received 113 votes and Sudan 55.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said that "Sudan is not ready for
Security Council membership while it is under sanctions, while it is
bombing U.N. relief workers and attacking churches. Mauritius is
ready.
"The Sudanese are saying that Mauritius was an American candidate," he
added. "This is not true. Mauritius was supported by a broad coalition
from all over the world. It is a great victory for the United Nations.
It is a great victory for Africa. It is a great victory for Mauritius.
And we are delighted."
Holbrooke said that the United States turned down a Sudan offer to
drop its candidacy if the U.S. would vote to end sanctions against
Khartoum.
"We tried to point out at the time we never make any deals and, in any
case, how could we make a deal?" Holbrooke said. "[Such] A decision
can only be made by the next administration with the next Congress,"
Holbrooke said.
"In any case, the Sudanese [government's] decision to fight
tenaciously does not help their desire for a dialogue," the ambassador
said.
Holbrooke said that the United States is "also very pleased that
Singapore, Colombia, Norway, and Ireland [will be on the council].
It's a very good group of countries.
The United States, China, France, Great Britain, and Russia hold
permanent seats and have veto power on the Security Council. The other
10 non-permanent seats are rotated on a regional basis with five
countries being elected each year for a two-year term. The five newly
elected members will take their place on the council January 1, 2001,
with the five permanent members and the five other non-permanent
members currently on the council: Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mali, Tunisia,
and Ukraine.
The Security Council is the U.N.'s main body responsible for
maintaining international peace and security. It is the only one whose
decisions are binding on U.N. member states.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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