The United Nations General Assembly is today expected to vote on Rwanda’s bid to occupy a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council.The Council is the highest decision making organ at the global body, particularly on matters maintaining to peace.If elected, Rwanda will represent the eastern and southern Africa region for a two-year term commencing on January 1, 2013.Observers say Rwanda stands a high chance of sailing through the crucial election since her candidacy has not been challenged by any other country.The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected by a two-thirds majority.With a vision to create a direct bridge between United Nations and Africa, Rwanda is leveraging her peacekeeping credentials to gain the seat, which is currently occupied by South Africa.In accordance with the Security Council’s rotation rules; the ten non-permanent UNSC seats rotate among the various regional blocs into which UN member states traditionally divide themselves for voting and representation purposes.Under the procedure, countries are unofficially divided into five geopolitical regional groups; Rwanda belongs to the Africa Group, with 54 member states that translate into 28% of representation at the UN.The Africa group is the largest regional grouping by member states with three seats.The last time Rwanda was on UN Security Council was back in 1994 at the heart of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.On April 30 1994, the U.N. Security Council spent eight hours discussing the crisis in Rwanda. The resolution condemning the killing deliberately omitted the word “Genocide” – causing widespread condemnation from campaign groups and the media.Each Council member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members. Decisions on substantive matters require nine votes, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This is the rule of “great Power unanimity”, often referred to as the “veto” power.Under the Charter, all members of the UN agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to governments, the Council alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to carry out.
