une Canadienne et un Kenyan lauréats, la candidate marocaine exclue
Summary of the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize Announcement
The United Nations has announced that the winners of the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize are Brenda Reynolds, an Indigenous social worker from Canada, and Kennedy Odede, a social entrepreneur from Kenya. This decision comes amidst controversy surrounding the nomination of Amina Bouayach from Morocco, which sparked widespread international protest.
Bouayach’s nomination was met with backlash from Sahrawi organizations and Moroccan human rights advocates, as well as numerous international NGOs. Critics branded her nomination as a "betrayal" of Nelson Mandela’s legacy and an "insult" to the sacrifices of those still living under colonial oppression. A coalition of rights victims, journalists, and former political prisoners expressed "deep indignation" over the possibility that someone linked to ongoing human rights violations in Morocco could receive such a distinguished award meant for defenders of human dignity and freedom.
The Sahrawi National Council and the Sahrawi National Human Rights Commission labeled Bouayach’s candidacy an "insult" to Mandela and a move that legitimizes repression in Western Sahara and Morocco. Additionally, Moroccan activists denounced her nomination as a "distortion of the credibility" of the United Nations and Mandela’s ideals. In Spain, the Spanish Progressive Union of Prosecutors (UPF) condemned Morocco’s use of the UN and Mandela’s legacy as a façade to "whitewash" its occupation, deeming such conduct a significant scandal.
The leftist Spanish political party Sumar also voiced strong opposition to Bouayach’s candidacy, calling it an "infamous disgrace" to Mandela’s legacy. The Nelson Mandela Prize, established in 2014, is awarded every five years to individuals whose work exemplifies Mandela’s values of leadership, humility, service, and cross-border unity.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to present the award to the winners on July 18, coinciding with the International Nelson Mandela Day. Guterres stated that this year’s laureates embody the spirit of unity and possibility, reminding us all of our power to build stronger communities and a better world.
In summary, while the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize honors figures committed to social justice, the controversy over Bouayach’s candidacy illustrates the complex dynamics of human rights recognition and the weight of historical legacies in contemporary discourse.
