Several African governments are facing criticism for sending substantial delegations to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, as revealed by the UN’s attendance list.
Notably, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Uganda are among the countries with the most extensive representations.
Nigeria took the lead with 1,411 attendees, followed by Morocco with 823 and Kenya with 765.
In response to the backlash, representatives from Nigeria and Kenya clarified that a significant portion of their listed delegates did not rely on public funding.
These individuals reportedly represented the media, civil society organisations, and private institutions. Furthermore, both nations emphasised that some delegates were participating remotely.
An adviser to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu defended the country’s substantial representation, stating, “As the biggest country in Africa, the biggest economy and one with a bigger stake in climate action as a country with a huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa.”
Kenya’s State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohammed, addressed concerns of an inflated delegation, explaining that the numbers reflected those who had registered for the event, not necessarily those who physically attended.
He clarified that the national government had only approved 51 essential delegates, with the remaining participants sponsored by various groups.
Similarly, the Tanzanian government released a statement asserting that over 90% of their delegation was sponsored by the private sector, emphasizing the collaborative nature of their representation at COP28.
SOURCE: BBC
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