The race to succeed UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres is heating up, with Uganda’s Olara Otunnu becoming the seventh candidate in the running.
The seasoned diplomat joins a field that includes Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and former Senegalese president Macky Sall.
Otunnu has decades of international experience, having served as Uganda’s ambassador to the UN, then UN under-secretary-general and special representative for children and armed conflict under Kofi Annan. He also briefly served as Uganda’s foreign minister.
As UN Security Council voting gets underway, Otunnu faces more than a crowded field of candidates. He must also navigate the complex dynamics of African diplomacy as the race for the world‘s top diplomatic job enters a crucial phase.
Burundi has been pushing Sall’s candidacy, while Rwanda has challenged the process used to rally African support behind the former Senegalese president. The dispute reflects broader tensions between Kigali and Bujumbura, adding another layer of politics to the contest.
Otunnu says his priorities as UN chief would be ending major conflicts, advancing UN reform, tackling climate change and strengthening global oversight of artificial intelligence.
