Somalia was elected to the United Nations’ top human rights body on Friday for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, getting 170 votes in the African States category.
Somalia won the election as a new member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, with a strong effort made by the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman.
The 193-member UN general assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council.
The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.
Somalia was vying for a seat in the African States category. Along with Somalia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eritrea and Togo.
Somalia was overwhelmingly elected by 170 votes out of 193.