The United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said nine African nations and Iran are in default on the payment of their dues to the United Nations’ operating budget and should lose their voting rights, reported Africa News.
In a letter addressed to General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, Guterres listed the minimum amount that the 10 countries need to pay to have their voting rights restored.
Iran is first on the list and need to pay a whopping $16,251,298 to get its voting rights restored. Somalia comes second on the list and must pay $1,443,640 followed by Comoros which need to pay $871,632.
Among others, Sao Tome and Principe is required to pay $829,888, Libya $705,391, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) $90,844, Zimbabwe $81,770, Central African Republic (CAR) $29,395, South Sudan $22,804, and Niger $6,733.
According to the U.N. Charter, the 193-member General Assembly has the authority to decide if the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member. If the reason is beyond control then in that case a country can continue to vote.
The UN’s annual operating budget is of about $3.2 billion. The international body has a separate budget for peace operations which is of about $6.5 billion.
In related news, the UN Secretary-General also voiced deep concern over escalating violence in West Darfur and called on the Sudanese authorities to increase efforts to end the fighting and restore law and order and ensure the protection of the innocent people.
As per reports, at least 83 people, including women and children, have been killed and more than 160 wounded in inter-communal clashes this weekend. Several houses have been destroyed and over 50,000 people displaced.
The violence took place about two weeks after the African Union-United Nations hybrid peacekeeping mission in the region (UNAMID) ended its operations in the Darfur region of Sudan at the end of 2020.
