Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu joins race to lead the United Nations

News Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu joins race to lead the United Nations Under Secretary-General Olara Otunnu addresses the Security Council, 14 January 2002.   -   Copyright © africanews FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Last updated: 26/07 - 17:01 Uganda Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu has become the seventh candidate to join the race to become the next leader of the United Nations. The former UN under-secretary-general, who served as a special representative for children and armed conflict, was nominated by Kampala on Friday. A previous opposition presidential candidate, he also served as Uganda's UN envoy, and as his country's foreign minister for a brief period. At 75, he is the oldest of the current candidates to replace Antonio Guterres whose mandate as secretary-general comes to an end on 31 December after two five-year terms in the post. The other potential successors in the running are from Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guyana, and Senegal's Macky Sall. The six other candidates, four of them women, participated in a televised debate on Thursday. At the end of this month, the 15 members of UN Security Council are due to hold their first closed-door, anonymous vote on their preferences among the candidates. That first "straw poll" will be followed by an unspecified number of similar votes until one person secures the required nine votes, without a veto from any of the five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia. The name of the selected candidate will then be sent to the General Assembly for formal appointment to the position. He or she will take office on 1 January 2027. You may also like Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 16 minutes ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 28 minutes ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 50 minutes ago From the same country 01:08 WHO confirms Uganda Ebola-free, as virus continues to spread in DRC 27/08 - 09:14 01:06 Uganda President’s son Muhoozi announces 2031 presidential bid 26/08 - 22:44 01:17 Uganda Pledges 1,200 Troops as Burundi Eyes Gaza Force 24/08 - 22:31 View more Share More About United Nations UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres UN Security Council candidate Uganda You may also like Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 16 minutes ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 28 minutes ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 50 minutes ago From the same country 01:08 WHO confirms Uganda Ebola-free, as virus continues to spread in DRC 27/08 - 09:14 01:06 Uganda President’s son Muhoozi announces 2031 presidential bid 26/08 - 22:44 01:17 Uganda Pledges 1,200 Troops as Burundi Eyes Gaza Force 24/08 - 22:31 On the same subject NEWS Go to video Uganda: Investigations into former Speaker of the House dropped 25/08 - 19:02 NEWS Go to video South Sudan: Two UN peacekeepers killed, seven injured 25/08 - 11:58 NEWS 01:06 DR Congo: Prosecutors seek 15-year prison sentence for ex-justice minister 20/08 - 16:42 NEWS 01:05 Regional body says Haiti need help ahead of holding first election in a decade 20/08 - 10:01 NEWS 01:12 UN flag at half-mast to honour humanitarian workers killed in line of duty 19/08 - 21:27 NEWS 01:09 DRC Ebola outbreak deadliest ever with one death every 30 minutes 17/08 - 11:16 More stories 01:25 General Abdourahamane Tchiani Calm returns to Niger's capital one day after failed army mutiny 7 hours ago 01:02 Coup Vote counting underway in Guinea-Bissau referendum that could expand presidential powers 6 hours ago 00:56 United Kingdom Notting Hill Carnival kicks off in a burst of colour and Caribbean tradition 2 hours ago