WTO DG's Race: Egypt Draws Battle Line With Nigeria Over Okonjo-Iweala's Nomination

Kicks Against Buhari’s Withdrawal Of Ambassador Frederick Agah’s Nomination
Seeks Consensus Candidate For Africa
Nigeria In Order As Agah Falls Short Of WTO Criteria For Nomination, Top Diplomat Reveals

The nomination of former Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Nigeria’s candidate for the position of Director-General of World Trade Organization (WTO) by President Muhammadu Buhari might have kick-started a fuss between the continent’s largest economy and another African powerhouse, Egypt in light of the later’s action to stop Nigeria’s bid.

The New Diplomat had broken the news of Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination on Thursday as the Nigerian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia informed Embassies and Permanent Missions of African countries in Addis Ababa of the development in a memo dated 4th June, 2020.

In the memo, Buhari also withdrew the candidacy of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah who is currently the deputy Director-General of the WTO earlier nominated by the country for the plum job. However, no reason was given for the withdrawal of his nomination in the memo, but a source revealed to The New Diplomat that he does not meet one of the criteria for nomination.

“President Muhammadu BUHARI has approved the nomination of Dr. Ngozi OKONJO-IWEALA to replace Ambassador AGAH, as Nigeria’s Candidate for the position of Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO),” the Nigerian Embassy memo (Note no: 146/2020) read in part.

But Egypt, frowned at Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination which led to the withdrawal of Agah’s in about a month away to the July 8, 2020 deadline for the closure of nominations for the election.

The election for the WTO DG position for term 2021 — 2025 has been scheduled to hold in Geneva, Switzerland in 2021.

On Friday, the Egyptian government in a memo (No. 081 /2020- AU) sent to the Permanent Missions of the WTO Member States of the Ministerial Committee on Candidatures said it will only recognize Agah as Nigeria’s candidate.

To it, the decision to replace Agah with Okonjo-Iweala suggested that Nigeria has forfeited its chance to participate in the election, requesting the Ministerial Committee on Candidatures to officially inform African bloc in Geneva about the development in an attempt to disqualify Nigeria.

According to it, the three earlier nominated candidates: Eloi Laourou (Republic of Benin) Abdulhameed Mamdouh (Egypt) and Mr Agah (Nigeria) had already been endorsed by the Executive Council to contest the position of the WTO Director General vide its decision EX.CL/Dec. 1090 (XXXVI)

Meanwhile, the North African nation didn’t stop at rejecting Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination, as it also sought to rally support for its candidate, Mamdouh. It said her government is in talks with Republic of Benin to agree on a consensus candidate for Africa.

“Abdulhameed Mamdouh of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Eloi Laourou of the Republic of Benin are currently the only two endorsed African candidates.

“In this context, the Permanent Mission of Egypt would like to highlight that Government of Egypt is undertaking consultations with the Government Benin with the aim of reaching a consensus on one African candidate between the only two currently endorsed African candidates, and will communicate the outcomes of these consultations to the esteemed Ministerial Committee at the soonest possible date,” the memo read.

However, a top diplomat disagreed with Egypt on its reason for rejecting Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination, noting that the window for the nomination of candidates has not closed. “The window will elapse on July 8 and Nigeria was in order with the replacement of Agah with Okonjo-Iweala. Nigeria could have nominated him in bad judgement and there’s nothing wrong in re-writing the wrong by nominating someone who has met the WTO criteria for the position.”

He added that Agah has not met one of the criteria for WTO DG nomination which is that a nominee should have served in ministerial capacity in his/her country. “Agah has never been a minister in this country, but Okonjo-Iweala has served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs during Obasanjo’s administration and also as a Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy under Jonathan among other international positions she has held for decades.”

Okonjo-Iweala is a renowned global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience, having worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.

In a special report on the candidate’s chances, The New Diplomat had hinted that Nigeria is rallying the AU member-states behind her primarily because among other factors, heavyweights like the US might prefer her on account of her solid Western educational background. “Besides, she is most extremely competent, highly proficient and very dynamic. She fits perfectly well in the role of DG of WTO,” the report noted on her chances.

In the meantime, it’s not clear how the geopolitics will play out between Nigeria, Egypt and their allies, but diplomats argue this will go to the wires as many believe Nigeria and her candidate, Okonjo-Iweala are no pushovers.

Aside Nigeria, Egypt and Republic of Benin, international heavyweight–United Kingdom and Kenya have also nominated candidates for the WTO DG election. The Kenyan nominee, Amina Mohammed, equally has very formidable, and gripping credentials having served as the first woman chair of the WTO Council previously. This is in addition to her serving as Kenya’s minister in various ministries including Foreign Affairs.

Some very senior diplomats who spoke with The New Diplomat however, pointed out that though Okonjo-Iweala may have been Nigeria’s Finance Minister, and a managing director of the World Bank, with solid credentials she has no background and specialty in trade, international trade dispute resolution and global trade monitoring, which are the crucial focal mandate areas of the WTO.

“Her area of expertise is international Finance,” said a retired senior Nigerian international diplomat. Notwithstanding, Okonjo-Iweala’s international profile, experience, and global skills-set are quite intimidating and impeccable.

”From the way Egypt is going, she may opt to play the role of a spoiler if care is not taken. The last time, African countries were also fighting among themselves and the decisive power blocs decided to give it to Brazil in South America”, said the diplomat.

The diplomat offers more insightful perspective thus: “So if Africa is not careful, if the continent cannot put its house in order, they (North America countries including US, Canada, and the EU countries) may simply look in the direction of the British, Lord Peter Mandelson who has a fitting skill-set for the WTO DG given his equally solid background.

“Unless some of the EU countries think otherwise, and Nigeria is able to leverage on their support, that will be most helpful to Okonjo-Iweala in the intriguing game. In the alternative, Egypt might also scale up tense and crucial support from the Middle East and team up with Kenya..Also don’t forget the Francophone countries. So what Nigeria needs now are global experts that can ‘sell’ a new narrative on what Okonjo-Iweala would bring to the WTO given her excellent background.”

The New Diplomat has examined the prospects of the five candidates who have so far been nominated. CLICK HERE