from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News)– A CLOSELY-FOUGHT election for the post of Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) is forecast, amid predictions the fallout between South Africa and fellow African nations could hurt the prospects of the beleaguered country’s candidate.
The election process resumes on Thursday (today) in Nigeria during the seventh Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL) in Abuja. The poll is to choose the successor to the Kenyan, John Omo, who has been at the helm since 2019.
South African candidate Cynthia Lesufi is the first woman to contest the position.
Until now, she had been a favourite in a four-horse race for the position.
Hers has been a compelling candidacy in a continent eager to bridge the gender-based digital divide.
An analyst, speaking to CAJ News Africa in Abuja, mentioned how the fallout between Lesufi’s country and fellow African nations could scuttle her history-making ambitions.
This follows the prevailing anti-migrant skirmishes in South Africa, some of which have resulted in the deaths of African nationals and diplomatic tiffs, particularly with countries in the western bloc of the continent.
Mass repatriations are ongoing and protests continue, adding a new dimension to the race for the position of Secretary-General.
Lesufi has been considered a favourite in a contest that also features Faysal Bayouli (Tunisia), Kezias Mwale (Malawi) and Ottou Valéry Hilaire (Cameroon).
Analyst Auta Ibrahim, speaking to CAJ News Africa in Abuja, said, “The diplomatic fallout is highly likely to cost the South African candidate the election.”
He said while Lesufi possessed the technical and diplomatic credentials required for the role, elections for pan-African institutional heads were rarely decided on individual merit alone but functioned as a litmus test of a member country’s current standing and influence within the African Union (AU) system.
“The current situation severely damages her chances for several critical reasons,” Ibrahim opined ahead of the two-day ATU conference.
The new ATU chief is likely to be confirmed no later than the weekend.
The political expert predicted member states could publicly mobilise regional solidarity while privately voting against South Africa to signal their displeasure with its domestic policies and recent treatment of foreign nationals.
He said hosting the elective summit in Abuja was a disadvantage for the South African candidate, as Nigeria was among the countries most distressed by recent events down south.
“This gives Nigerian and West African diplomats an immediate home-ground advantage to lobby and consolidate an anti-South Africa voting coalition.”
West African giants Ghana and Nigeria, which are also continental powerhouses, have in recent days mobilised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt a unified stance against the so-called Afrophobia in South Africa.
Southern Africa has largely adopted “quiet diplomacy”, with only Mozambique describing the tensions in South Africa as xenophobia and alleging that some of its citizens had been killed.
Ibrahim said ultimately, international telecommunications policy could not be entirely removed from broader geopolitics.
“When a country faces formal scrutiny and friction from major continental peers like Nigeria and Ghana, its candidates almost always suffer the impact of that isolation at the ballot box.”
The winning candidate’s first term runs from 2027 to 2030.
South Africa has embarked on a drive to mend relations with fellow African countries.
Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, in his capacity as Special Envoy on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Tuesday met President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana in Accra.
“We underscored our position against all forms of intolerance, we categorically reject xenophobia, racism, homophobia and violence in all forms, and remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law,” the minister said.
Headquartered in Kenya, ATU is a specialised agency of the 55-member AU, focusing on ICT and telecommunications development.
