Tedros Ghebreyesus, stands in WHO Unopposed In Top Post Race

Tedros will almost certainly be re-elected as he is the single candidate. 

Geneva: 

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, one of the most well-known characters in the global fight against Covid-19, will run unopposed for re-election to the World Health Organization on Tuesday. 

Following a secret-ballot vote in a closed-door session of the WHO's executive board on Tuesday, the first African leader of the UN health agency is poised to have his nomination recognised. 

When the 194 WHO member states convene in May, they will vote on whether to keep the former Ethiopian minister of health and foreign affairs in the position he has held since 2017.

Tedros will almost certainly be re-elected as the single candidate. 

Since bursting onto the global spotlight more than two years ago, Covid-19, a 56-year-old malaria specialist, has been lauded for leading the WHO through the crisis. 

African countries, in particular, have praised his dedication to the region and his tireless battle to ensure that poorer countries receive their fair share of Covid vaccinations.

Ethiopia being chastised 

Meanwhile, Tedros's own country is the main source of opposition. 

Ethiopia's administration is becoming increasingly irritated by his remarks regarding the humanitarian crisis in his native province of Tigray, which is engulfed in a 14-month conflict. 

Tedros Ghebreyesus tweets about humanitarian crisis in Tigray.

Addis Ababa ordered that Tedros be probed for "misconduct and violation of his professional and legal obligation" after he described the situation as "hell" and accused the government of delaying medicines and other life-saving supplies from reaching desperate residents earlier this month.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, does not appear to have much backing in its critique.

"He has expressed himself aggressively," a western diplomatic source told AFP on condition of anonymity, "but what he is saying matches to realities observed by the chiefs of all humanitarian organisations." 

"From the beginning, Ethiopia's government has worked to prevent Dr Tedros from being reappointed as WHO director-general," the source added, citing Addis Ababa's refusal to allow the African Union to unanimously nominate him. 

Despite Ethiopia's objections, Tedros received backing from 28 countries, the most of which were from Europe, but a few from Africa, including Kenya and Rwanda.

No tolerance for abuse 

The US is now largely supportive of the WHO director-general. 

That represents a significant shift from the beginning of the pandemic, when former President Donald Trump's administration began withdrawing the US from the WHO, accusing it of being Beijing's stooge and aiding in the cover-up of the initial outbreak. 

The retreat was blocked by Trump's successor, Joe Biden, and Washington has expressed increasing support for Tedros as he has taken a tougher stance with China, demanding greater information about the outbreak's sources.

Beijing has chastised the WHO leader for some of his remarks, but continues to back his candidacy. 

Aside from the pandemic, Tedros has faced a barrage of criticism, including from countries supporting his re-election campaign, for his handling of devastating allegations of rape and sexual assault by humanitarian workers, including 21 WHO employees battling Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2018 and 2020. 

Tedros told the WHO's executive board on Monday that the organisation has "zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment."

zero tolerance for abuse tweet by Tedros Ghebreyesus

Significant reform

Tedros' second term will very certainly be defined by the monumental challenge of strengthening the WHO, whose flaws were exposed as the pandemic ravaged the globe. 

Many countries are calling for considerable reforms, but the scope and nature of the changes are still being worked out, with some countries concerned that a stronger WHO may impinge on their sovereignty. 

Tedros is also advocating for a major overhaul of WHO funding, warning that the organisation lacks the resources it needs to respond to the myriad crises it is called upon to address around the world.

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