Usually, a vote for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is an event likely to go unnoticed.Quite often, what happens is that regional blocs, based on a rotational arrangement, agree among themselves whose turn it is to represent that block. As a collective position, they submit the name of that country to the UN General Assembly for voting.Therefore, because of this consensus built prior to the actual UN vote – at regional or continental level – the candidate submitted usually sails through without any impediments.As the case was, after months of intense lobbying and diplomatic engagements, Rwanda was the candidate of choice for the African Union. And as such, the AU sent Rwanda as its sole candidate for the non-permanent seat on the UNSC seat.But in a twist of diplomatic etiquette, when time came to vote, some members of the African bloc decided to defy the position of the AU. A few countries within this bloc de-campaigned Rwanda with some acting out of desperation to present their own candidature for this particular seat.Let me equate this to a simple village election. Imagine a scenario of a village election where, for the last few months, candidates have been traversing the village canvassing support. The stage is all set and the opinion polls show who the likely winner is.Then on the actual day of the vote, a stranger emerges from nowhere and presents himself or herself as a candidate, expecting people to queue behind him. Do you expect anyone to waste time lining up behind such a fellow? Certainly not – because any electoral exercise has a due process it follows.This scenario easily augurs well with the actions of some spoilers that wasted energy de-campaigning Rwanda’s candidature at the last minute leading to the extent of nominating and eventually voting themselves.My bone of contention is why these countries had to humiliate and betray the African Union by going against an earlier agreed position of this continental body.I have read in some circles that some of these countries harbour ambitions of serving as a UNSC permanent member; if at all this moment ever comes. But how can we trust them to represent Africa if they are the very people undermining the position of the AU in broad-day light?If it’s very own members do not respect what has been agreed upon, why should China, US or EU give a damn about the AU?For Rwanda to have overcome these last minute machinations from some AU member states, I will toast!My second toast is also partly related to the above and something this column touched on last week. There’s something about this country that I fail to understand. Rwanda is not a developed country. Rwanda is not a mineral-rich country. Rwanda is not a terrorist hotspot. But the way it attracts attention, you would think this country shares a border with Yemen or Afghanistan or is endowed with some natural gems.If a grenade detonates in Rusizi today, you are likely to read a story prophesying doom in the UK’s Guardian tomorrow. Yet within their midst, each corner of the street has a gang shooting or stabbing a person.This whole DRC saga was blown out of proportion by the international media acting in conspiracy with some individuals who have an axe to grind with Rwanda. In fact had this problem of DRC not been hijacked by these fellows, I am sure the crisis would not have escalated to this level.As soon as the problem became a media issue, Kinshasa became stubborn. They got the false impression that by siding with these hijackers, the problem would shift from their doorstep to their neighbor!They partly succeeded in that strategy but unfortunately as we see now, it is tearing apart, right in their face.All along, the intention of these fellows was to blackmail Rwanda through a malicious media campaign with the hope of blocking its UNSC candidacy.Therefore, much as Rwanda’s ascension to this seat is not necessarily a groundbreaking achievement or not as sweet as striking oil, the mere fact that the country put up a spirited fight against these evil forces and eventually emerged victorious, is something we can raise our glasses to.For that, I propose my second toast!On twitter @aasiimwe
