Both African candidates in the selection process for the director-general (DG) of World Trade Organization (WTO) have been eliminated after the first round of consultations, according to the General Council chair Mr Ahmed Bashir.
This leaves only two Latin American candidates, two Asian candidates and a New Zealander in the running.
The five candidates in the running are Marie Pangetsu of Indonesia, Tim Groser of New Zealand, Hermino Blanco of Mexico, Roberto de Azevedo of Brazil, and Mr Taeho Bark of the Republic of Korea.
According to trade officials, the Troika will proceed with a second round of consultations from April 16 to April 24 over the remaining candidates.
Sources indicate that the current shortlist might eventually be pruned further to result in a contest between Groser (supported by developed countries), Pangetsu and Bark, for the lack of consensus between Mexico and Brazil could end up with the continent being a loser.
If Mexico gives in to Brazil, Latin America would have a strong chance in the next round, for Roberto de Azevedo, who is the Brazilian ambassador to the WTO, would be one of the most popular candidates.
Kenya’s candidate Amina Mohamed, however, declined to withdraw and remains in the contest.
Amina, who is currently the UN assistant secretary general and deputy director general of UNEP, was the former General Council chair during her assignment as Kenya’s ambassador to the WTO, and her elimination has been challenged by the delegates of Ghana and Kenya who raised concerns about the process, particularly over the fact that a few delegations had submitted more than four preferences and some less than that, which they felt was not a positive development.
Africa is crying foul. However if the African candidates could have joined hands and agreed to a candidate from their continent, the loss of one country could have been the gain of the continent.