Fact-Check: Has Zambia Been Sanctioned and Blacklisted by the UNHRC?

Claim being checked

The Daily Nation Zambia, a local newspaper, reported that Zambia has been sanctioned and blacklisted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for failing to uphold human rights standards between 2022 and 2024.

*Screenshot of the report carried by the Daily Nation Zambia on their Official Facebook Page*

Verification

To fact-check this claim, Dikoding Deception analyzed the report published by Daily Nation Zambia on their official Facebook page on January 13, 2025. According to the article, Zambia was sanctioned and removed from the UNHRC due to human rights violations under the current government.

However, an official review of UNHRC records and statements from relevant authorities contradicts this claim.

UNHRC Membership Rules:

Membership is not permanent and is based on a regional quota system, with Africa allocated 13 seats.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) consists of 47 member states, elected by a majority vote in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through a direct and secret ballot.

Official Clarification:

This means Zambia was not removed or blacklisted, but rather was not a candidate for election to the Council during this period.

Mark Maseko, the National Information Officer at the United Nations in Zambia, confirmed that Zambia did not seek election for the 2023-2025 and 2024-2026 terms.

National Information Officer at the United Nations in Zambia, Mark Maseko clarified that Zambia did not seek election for the terms 2023-2025 and 2024-2026.

Conclusion

The claim by Daily Nation Zambia that Zambia has been sanctioned and blacklisted by the UNHRC is MISLEADING. Zambia was not removed from the Human Rights Council, nor was it sanctioned—it simply did not contest for a seat in the specified terms.