AU yet to endorse consensus candidate for WTO top job

-       Contradicts claim of endorsement by the candidate from Egypt

The African Union (AU) says it is yet to agree on a consensus candidate for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The AU said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Bern on Tuesday.

“As at present there is no African-Union endorsed candidate for this post,” the AU stated.

The AU’s position contradicts claims by the candidate from Egypt, Mr Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh, who at a press conference in Geneva said he had been endorsed by the Union.

According to the statement, the AU Commission, under the guidance of its ministerial committee, had made concerted efforts toward the endorsement of a single candidate for the WTO Director-General post.

However, due to circumstances beyond its control, the committee could not meet on three scheduled dates to decide on a consensus candidate.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva has also reacted to Mamdouh’s claims.

In a letter to the WTO, the mission said that the process of deciding and endorsing a single candidate for the Director-General post was still ongoing.

“This has put to rest claims that the particular candidate has been endorsed by the AU, therefore, rendering other African candidates illegitimate,” it said.

Nigeria’s former Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, alongside Mrs Amina Mohamed of Kenya and Egypt’s Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh, are the three candidates from Africa vying for the WTO top job.

The other candidates are from the UK, Saudi Arabia, Moldova, and Mexico.

The candidates had made individual presentations to the WTO Council which held from July 15 to 17 at the kickoff of the selection process.

The second phase of the selection process, in which candidates would make themselves known to members will end on Sept. 7.

Similarly, the third phase which is the consultation process would commence the same day.

At the forthcoming consultation, Chairman of the General Council alongside Chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body would consult with all the WTO members to determine which candidate is best placed to attract consensus support.