Geneva (AFP)

More diversity would strengthen the World Trade Organization, argues Amina Mohamed - woman and African - in the running to lead the international organization hit hard by the crisis of multilateralism.

For this 58-year-old Kenyan, giving a woman or someone from Africa the opportunity to lead the WTO, would send "a very powerful message", she told AFP in an interview. .

Until now, the body that prides itself on organizing the orderly liberalization of world trade has always been run only by men.

For Ms. Mohamed, who is one of eight candidates seeking the post of Director General, the WTO could only benefit from being a more faithful reflection of all those who contribute to world trade.

Ms. Mohamed, currently Minister of Sports and Culture and who has also led Kenyan diplomacy, is in competition with two other candidates from the continent, the Nigerian Okonjo-Iweala and the Egyptian Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh.

If the WTO statutes do not provide for a geographical rotation for the Director General, voices are raised to say that it is around an African or an African to occupy the post.

Since its creation in 1995, the WTO has been headed by six men: three Europeans, a New Zealander, a Thai and a Brazilian.

"A competent person (for this role) can come from any part of the world," Ms. Mohamed said.

- Woman in the lead -

"This idea that competence, expertise, knowledge and know-how only come from certain regions of the world, is not something convincing today", she affirmed and added : "its expiration date has passed".

The process to find a replacement for Roberto Azevedo, who left the organization on August 31st a year ahead of schedule, should focus on selecting "a suitable leader, ... a leader. wise.

"And it's fantastic if an African" meets those criteria.

Ms. Mohamed, who knows the WTO well having held important positions there is also competing with two other women, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean Yoo Myung-hee, to end male hegemony in the head of the WTO.

"It is essential that we have women among the hierarchy of international organizations," she insisted, adding that a woman at the head of the WTO would be a good thing.

"It's great to have women in this role, because it shows that we accept that women occupy leadership positions, that we recognize women in this role and that their contribution is important", insists the candidate.

- Consensus -

Wherever he comes from, the next head of the WTO will have a lot to do in a context of crisis: economic because of the pandemic but also confidence in the well-founded multilateralism of the liberalization of world trade, all on bottom of trade war between the two first world economic powers, China and the United States.

What is needed is a leader who "understands the issues, is ready to move them forward and who is ready to bring the member countries together by building consensus," she explains.

Regarding the appointment process, which some fear will drag on beyond November because of political tensions, Ms. Mohamed is not worried.

"I don't see why it wouldn't work," she says.

© 2020 AFP