Nigeria has secured a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) after receiving 172 votes in an election by the UN General Assembly, earning the country a three-year term on the international body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

The election was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Nigeria will serve on the 47-member council from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029.

Nigeria was among 15 countries elected to the council for the new term. The other successful candidates included Zambia, Ghana, Burundi, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, Moldova and Ukraine.

Among the African candidates, Zambia received 177 votes, Ghana secured 173, Nigeria obtained 172, while Burundi received 160 votes.

The election gives Nigeria an opportunity to participate in international deliberations on human rights standards, alleged violations and measures aimed at improving the protection of fundamental freedoms across the world.

However, the process has attracted criticism from human rights organisations because the election was uncontested. Regional groups nominated exactly as many candidates as there were available seats, meaning there was no competitive ballot among rival candidates within the respective groups.

The UN Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body based in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 2006, it is mandated to address human rights violations, promote respect for fundamental freedoms and make recommendations to governments and the international community.

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The council comprises 47 member states elected by the UN General Assembly through a secret ballot. Its seats are allocated among five regional groups to ensure geographical representation, and members serve staggered three-year terms.

The body examines human rights situations in individual countries, conducts its Universal Periodic Review of UN member states and considers complaints and reports concerning alleged abuses. It can also appoint independent experts, establish commissions of inquiry and authorise fact-finding missions to investigate serious allegations.

Although the council plays an important role in international human rights oversight, it does not operate as a criminal court and cannot independently impose criminal sentences on individuals accused of abuses.

Nigeria’s election comes amid continuing international scrutiny of human rights conditions in several countries, including concerns about police conduct, accountability, freedom of expression and the treatment of vulnerable groups.

The selection of countries with contested human rights records has been criticised by advocacy organisations, which argue that uncontested elections can weaken accountability and reduce pressure on candidates to demonstrate their commitment to protecting fundamental rights.

The criticism has also raised questions about how elected countries will use their positions on the council to address allegations of abuses and support international human rights standards.

For Nigeria, membership offers a platform to contribute to debates on issues such as unlawful killings, torture, discrimination, the rights of women and children, freedom of expression and the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.

The country will also be expected to participate in council sessions, consider resolutions and engage with other member states on international human rights concerns.

Nigeria’s three-year membership begins in January 2027. Its performance on the council will be watched alongside its domestic human rights record, including how authorities address allegations of misconduct and strengthen accountability and protection for citizens.

The election is therefore both a diplomatic achievement for Nigeria and an opportunity for the country to demonstrate its commitment to the principles the council was established to uphold.

Israeli settlers have reportedly set fire to a mosque, a vehicle and an olive tree in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, in an attack that has renewed concerns about violence against Palestinian communities and religious sites.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, when a group of settlers raided Mikhmas, also spelt Mukhmas, northeast of occupied Jerusalem.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the Jerusalem Governorate reported that dozens of settlers entered the village shortly after midnight and set fire to a mosque and a nearby olive tree. A vehicle was also completely burned during the attack.

Reports from the scene showed damage to the mosque’s entrance. No injuries were reported in the initial accounts of the incident.

Reports also indicated that nationalist and racist slogans were spray-painted on the mosque and other buildings in the village. The extent of the damage and whether anyone had been arrested in connection with the attack were not immediately clear.

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The attack adds to continuing concerns over Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian residents have reported assaults, intimidation, property destruction and attacks on farmland.

The incident is particularly sensitive because it involved a Muslim place of worship. Religious sites and civilian property are protected under international humanitarian law, and deliberate attacks against them raise serious legal concerns.

The latest incident also comes amid the annual olive harvest, an important source of income for many Palestinian farming families. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said on Monday that it had documented 136 attacks linked to the olive harvest since the beginning of October. The reported incidents included beatings, intimidation, gunfire, theft of olives and farming equipment, and damage to trees.

The burning of the mosque in Mikhmas follows other reported arson attacks on mosques in the West Bank in recent months. In July, two mosques in the Palestinian villages of Qusra and Kour were set on fire following deadly clashes in the territory.

Reuters reported at the time that the Israeli military had confirmed evidence of arson and graffiti at the affected mosque sites and condemned attacks on religious places. The incidents prompted renewed calls for measures to prevent further attacks and hold those responsible accountable.

The wider situation in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory remains tense, with attacks by settlers and Israeli military operations contributing to insecurity for residents. Palestinian officials have repeatedly called for stronger protection of communities and accountability for attacks on civilians and their property.

The circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s mosque attack remain under investigation, and it was not immediately clear whether Israeli authorities had announced arrests or opened a formal inquiry.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the safety of Palestinian religious sites, homes and agricultural land, as calls grow for effective action against violence in the occupied West Bank.