Africa’s Chances at UN Top Job Slim.
Africa’s chances of producing the next UN Secretary-General are fading. We have two candidates: former Senegalese president Macky Sall and Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu. Both received poor results in the latest vote by the UN Security Council, suggesting they face an uphill battle.
But the UN could have its first female Secretary-General. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan is among the leading contenders. She received nine votes in her favour, but five countries opposed her, including two unnamed Security Council members that could veto her appointment.
The selection process is now at the voting and negotiation stage. The 15-member Security Council must agree on a candidate, who then goes to the wider UN General Assembly for formal approval. Any of the five permanent members, the US, UK, France, China and Russia, can block a candidate they don’t like.
The final decision is expected before the end of this year. The new SG is due to take office on 1 January 2027, when António Guterres’s term ends.
By Maureen Nkandu