UN Chief Race: African Candidates Face Uncertainty as Seven Contenders Meet Opposition
African candidates seeking to become the next United Nations Secretary-General face an uncertain path after all seven contenders reportedly encountered opposition in an informal Security Council vote.
The development has raised questions about the chances of former Senegalese President Macky Sall and Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, who are among those seeking to succeed António Guterres.
A diplomatic source said the candidates received discouraging votes from permanent members of the 15-member Security Council during an informal poll held on Friday.
The five permanent members are the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France and Russia. Each has veto power over the appointment of the next UN chief.
Guterres, a Portuguese national, will complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026.
African Candidates in the UN Leadership Race
Africa has two candidates in the contest, according to the report.
They are Macky Sall, who served as Senegal’s president, and Olara Otunnu, a Ugandan diplomat and former UN official.
Their chances will depend partly on whether they can secure sufficient support from Security Council members without attracting a veto from any of the five permanent powers.
The selection process is particularly challenging because disagreements among the major powers can prevent a candidate from advancing, even when that individual enjoys considerable support from other members.
Costa Rica’s Grynspan Leads Informal Poll
Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica received the highest number of encouraging votes in Friday’s informal poll.
However, she also received five discouraging votes, including two from permanent members of the Security Council.
Her performance in previous rounds had placed her among the leading contenders, but the latest results suggest that significant obstacles remain.
The report also indicated that Washington opposed all seven candidates, although the US representative to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, declined to comment directly on that claim.
Waltz said the United States wanted the best candidate for the position and maintained that countries could nominate additional contenders.
More Candidates Could Enter the Contest
The race could become more competitive if additional candidates emerge in the coming weeks.
Diplomats have mentioned Nickolay Mladenov, a senior representative for Gaza associated with the US-backed Peace Council, as a possible contender.
Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has also been mentioned.
Another name raised in diplomatic discussions is Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu, a Turkish diplomat who serves as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Their possible entry could further complicate a contest already affected by divisions among the Security Council’s permanent members.
How the Next UN Secretary-General Will Be Selected
The UN Secretary-General is selected through a process involving the Security Council and the General Assembly.
A candidate must secure at least nine votes from the 15-member Security Council and avoid a veto from any of its five permanent members.
Once the Security Council recommends a candidate, the General Assembly considers the recommendation and appoints the successful nominee.
The informal straw-poll system helps members assess candidates’ support before a formal recommendation is made.
During these polls, members indicate whether they encourage or discourage a candidate or have no opinion.
The process has continued despite criticism from countries concerned about its lack of transparency.
Latin America Also Seeks the Top Position
The position of UN Secretary-General has traditionally rotated among different regions, although this is an informal convention rather than a binding rule.
Latin America is expected to have a strong claim in the current selection cycle, with several candidates from the region competing for the position.
However, the presence of African candidates has also drawn attention to the continent’s aspirations for a greater role in global leadership.
With opposition emerging in the informal voting process and the possibility of additional contenders entering the race, the contest to succeed Guterres remains uncertain.
The final outcome will depend on the candidates’ ability to secure sufficient support among Security Council members and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent powers.
