Nigeria, Ghana, Burundi and Zambia were among the 15 countries elected to the United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Council.

In a single round of voting on Tuesday, the four African countries were elected alongside Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Uruguay to the council for the next three years, with their terms commencing on 1 January 2027.

“They will replace 15 members whose terms expire on 31 December. Of these, five states—China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, France and Malawi—were ineligible for immediate re-election, having served out two terms, back-to-back, as stipulated by General Assembly resolution 60/251 adopted on 15 March 2006,” a UN statement said.

The council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system, made up of 47 states, responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

It can discuss thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.

Nigeria’s election to the council allows the country to help shape global human rights policies, strengthen its diplomatic standing, and participate directly in international decision-making.

The opportunity also spotlights the country’s domestic human rights record, highlighting the need for the government to address internal challenges, civil liberties concerns, and accountability to maintain credibility on the world stage.