Afghanistan Denied Voting Rights at UN for Third Consecutive Year
Afghanistan has been deprived of its voting rights at the United Nations General Assembly for the third consecutive year due to unpaid annual membership fees and the unresolved status of the country’s seat. This situation persists as Afghanistan’s representative has yet to be officially recognized by the UN within the framework of the Taliban administration.
According to UN financial regulations, any country whose membership fee arrears exceed a specified limit temporarily loses its voting rights in the General Assembly. Afghanistan’s annual membership fee is estimated at around $200,000.
The United Nations operates with 193 member states, where each country holds an equal vote in the General Assembly regardless of its military or economic power. Losing this right means a reduction in the official role of countries in major international decision-making processes.
Afghanistan has been a member of this international organization since 1946. However, following the fall of the previous government in 2021 and the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, Afghanistan’s UN seat has not been transferred to the new Taliban-led administration. The continuation of this condition and the inability to pay membership fees raise questions about the Taliban administration’s management of foreign relations and its accountability regarding the country’s international standing.
