Seventh candidate, Uganda’s Otunmu, joins race to lead UN

What the report says

Hurriyet Daily News reported that Uganda’s Olara Otunnu entered the contest to become the next United Nations secretary-general, making him the seventh candidate in the race. According to the report, the U.N. informed member states on July 25 that Uganda had formally put forward Otunnu, 75, for the post.

Otunnu is a former senior U.N. official and Ugandan politician. He served from 1997 to 2005 as U.N. under-secretary-general and special representative for children and armed conflict during Kofi Annan’s tenure as secretary-general. The report also noted his previous roles as Uganda’s ambassador to the U.N. and, briefly, as foreign minister. In domestic politics, Otunnu ran for president in 2011 as the Uganda People’s Congress candidate, losing to President Yoweri Museveni, who has led Uganda since 1986.

The other candidates named in the report are Michelle Bachelet of Chile, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Macky Sall of Senegal. They are seeking to succeed António Guterres, whose term ends on Dec. 31.

The selection process is set to move into a key phase on July 30, when the 15-member U.N. Security Council is expected to hold its first closed, anonymous straw poll. Further informal votes may follow until a candidate can gain at least nine council votes and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members. The council’s choice would then go to the General Assembly for formal appointment, with the next secretary-general due to take office on Jan. 1, 2027.