Kenya's Amina Mohamed Knocked Out of the Race for World Trade Organization's Director-General Seat

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed’s bid for World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general seat has flopped.

Amina failed to progress to the final round of the race alongside two other candidates; Liam Fox from the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri.

The three did not garner enough support from WTO’s member states, according to Bloomberg News.

The elimination of the three means Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will go head-to-head for the seat with Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea in the final round.

The two finalists will officially be announced on Thursday morning in Geneva, Switzerland.

“By advancing two women to the final round of the selection process, the WTO will likely have the first female director-general in its 25-year history,” Bloomberg said in a report.

The WTO director-general seat fell vacant after the resignation of Brazilian Roberto Azevedo in August this year.

This becomes Amina’s second time to unsuccessfully contest for the seat after she lost to Azevêdo in the final round in 2013 through a decision made by consensus among member states. 

WTO director-general is appointed through consensus by the 164 member states and serves for a four-year renewable term. The new director-general will be announced by December.

Headquartered in Geneva, WTO guides international trade and tries to resolve disputes.