Africa is its own enemy – US reacts to DRC's nomination for human rights seat

The United States envoy to the United Nations, Ambassador Nikki Haley, has launched a scathing attack on Africa. She accused the continent of ‘an inexcusable failure’ to act on the security issues dogging Africa.

Her comments were in response to the nomination of the Democratic Republic of Congo for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. She said such positions “weakened” the body and could fuel conflict, AFP news agency reports.

Ambassador Haley who was addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday said:

“The commitment to promoting human rights must precede conflict – and take precedence over politics – in order to secure peace and security.

‘‘When the nations of the Africa Group put forward a country like the Democratic Republic of Congo to be a member of the Human Rights Council, it does more than just weaken that body – it adds to the conflict that is causing so much suffering on that continent.”

The highest decision making body of the UN – the General Assembly is expected to vote in October to fill seats at the 47-nation council. The Human Rights body is tasked with monitoring and investigating rights violations across the world.

African countries have chosen DR Congo, Angola, Nigeria and Senegal to fill the four seats reserved for the continent, AFP reports.

The DRC has been plunged into a political crisis following the failure of President to step down late last year after the expiration of his second and final term as president.

Parts of the country continue to experience gun battles and clashes between the security and armed groups. The central Kasai region and Beni are examples of volatile areas. Two UN investigators were killed earlier this year in Kasai.

The UN says they are not ruling out the involvement of Congolese security forces or militia groups in the suspected murder of two of their colleagues. A number of mass graves have been discovered in parts of the country.