UN appoints Cameroonian magistrate Ombudsperson to Security Council.

“I have the honour to refer to Security Council resolution 2734 (2024), by which the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsperson, established pursuant to resolution 1904 (2009), until 17 June 2027,” Guterres wrote.  

The UN scribe added that: “Accordingly, I wish to inform you that, following consultations with the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, I have appointed Ms. Vera Ngwenyi Nkwate Epse Ngassa (Cameroon) as Ombudsperson”. 

Guterres, in the letter, asked the UN Security Council president to bring Vera Ngwenyi Nkwate’s appointment to the “attention of the members of the Security Council”.

The appointment of the Superscale judge of the second group at the Supreme Court of Cameroon, has been described as source of pride for the nation on global stage.

Her rise to the position is also being considered as evidence of the Cameroonian judiciary’s contribution to global diplomacy. 

The huge tasks entrusted to the Cameroonian, it is also said, speaks volumes of her distinguished record, impactful service and the confidence, wisdom, courage and integrity she has built on the international community over the years. 

Her elevation to the position has also been described as an inspiration to emerging scholars, practitioners, and citizens across the continent.

Role of Ombudsperson

The position of the Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee was established through a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on December 17, 2009.

The Ombudsperson to the UN Security Council’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee is to be independent and impartial.

The holder of the post is central to safeguarding the principles of due process, transparency, and fairness within one of the Security Council’s most sensitive sanction regimes, demands exceptional integrity, diplomatic acumen, and unwavering commitment to justice. 

The Ombudsperson reviews requests from individuals, groups or entities who want to be removed from the UN Security Council’s ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.

After receiving delisting requests, the Ombudsperson is mandated to gather information and interact with the complainant and the relevant countries and organisations about the request before presenting a comprehensive report to the sanctions committee.

The sanctions committee may choose to overturn the ombudsperson’s recommendation under certain circumstances. The ombudsperson’s role is also to communicate the sanctions committee’s decision on the delisting request to complainants.

About the Vera Ngwenyi Nkwate

Born in Bamenda in the North West Region on May 21, 1964, Vera Ngwenyi Nkwate holds an LLM in International Legal Studies and a certificate in International Human Rights Law from Georgetown University, USA. 

Grounded with both theoretical and a practical knowledge of international human rights law, the human rights advocate, law professor, former prosecutor and judge has taught human rights law at the university for the past 15 years. She served as prosecutor for seven years and a judge for nineteen years. 

For over two decades, she has worked with both national and international Non-Governmental Organisation, NGOs as well as the Cameroon Human Rights Commission on monitoring and reporting human rights issues. 

She created and implemented human rights curricula and carried out human rights training and awareness raising and capacity building from grassroots levels to policy makers.

The legal scholar teaching international human rights law has carried out in depth studies on relevant international human rights instruments, norms and principles as well as UN treaty and charter bodies and systems, institutional mandates, and thematic studies. 

Her studies have also covered Inter-American, African and European human rights systems. Vera Ngwenyi Nkwate is member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, the International Association of Women judges, both of which have consultative status with the UN. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3636 of Tuesday November 25, 2025