Morning Multilateralism

Tuesday, July 28 2020

• As coronavirus hits South Africa hard, the International Monetary Fund approves more than $4 billion in emergency funds. For a compilation of all Covid-related IMF lending (which totals more than $18 billion), see here.

• The United Nations is investigating an alleged massacre in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, amid accusations that the peacekeeping force in the country did not do enough to prevent it. Violence in the region has been endemic, and the UN maintains an 18,000-strong peacekeeping force in the country. The leading troop contributors are Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

• The four candidates to serve as the next prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will participate in public hearings this week. Human Rights Watch is pleased by the new transparency in the selection process:

  This is the third election for the top ICC prosecutor, and these hearings are unprecedented. During two sessions, candidates will answer questions posed by member countries and civil society groups. Candidates will not receive questions in advance, and written questions may be submitted during the sessions. While not without its limits, this unique arrangement offers a first public chance to assess the candidates side-by-side, and hear directly from them about their experience and vision.

  Meanwhile, a group of trade unions and other civil society organizations wants the ICC to investigate whether Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro committed crimes against humanity through his negligence in handling the pandemic.

• Latvia, which has never served as an elected member on the UN Security Council, gears up for the 2025 elections. Diplomats in Riga will be looking for lessons from their Baltic counterparts:

  In preparation for the Security Council elections, Latvia hopes to learn from the experience of Estonia, which is currently on the Council. Lithuania has also already sat at the prestigious UN table. As the experts highlighted, although the elections will take place in five years' time, they must start preparing for now. This will require resources, diplomats' efforts and national awareness advertising campaigns on international media.

  According to the United Nations, nearly a third of all UN members have never served on the Council.

• Very briefly noted:

  • The UN Security Council appears set to renew sanctions on the Central African Republic.

  • In a speech to Chinese students, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres talked tough about coal and its environmental impact.

  • Through a diplomatic note to the United Nations, Australia signals its rejection of many of China’s legal claims in the South China Sea.

  • The World Bank touts the potential economic benefits of an African free trade pact.