Ugandan Diplomat Otunnu Joins Race For UN Secretary-General

Ugandan diplomat and former United Nations under-secretary-general Olara Otunnu has formally entered the race to become the next UN secretary-general, becoming the seventh candidate seeking to succeed António Guterres when his second five-year term ends later this year.

Uganda submitted Otunnu’s nomination in a letter to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and Security Council on Friday. The 75-year-old, who previously served as the UN’s special representative for children and armed conflict, is the oldest candidate in the race and brings decades of diplomatic and international governance experience to the contest.

In his vision statement, Otunnu pledged to continue reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations. He identified resolving major international conflicts as an immediate priority and proposed creating a dedicated body to coordinate the organisation’s work on artificial intelligence. He also called for stronger global action to address climate change while ensuring that efforts to reduce emissions do not undermine economic growth and development, particularly in developing countries.

Otunnu joins a field of candidates that includes Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and former Senegalese president Macky Sall.

The selection process is expected to intensify this week as the 15-member UN Security Council begins informal straw polls to assess support for each candidate. Diplomats say there is no clear frontrunner, while additional nominations may still be submitted before the process concludes. Any eventual candidate must avoid a veto from one of the Security Council’s five permanent members.

SOURCE: Reuters