Key facts
- Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu is seeking to succeed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
- Otunnu called for continued reform of the United Nations and restoration of its moral authority.
- He quoted the Prayer of St. Francis to illustrate the need to bridge global divisions.
- Otunnu is the oldest of the eight candidates at 75.
- The UN Security Council plans a second informal poll on Friday to select the next head.
Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, one of eight candidates vying to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN Secretary-General, has called for significant reforms within the world body and a restoration of its moral authority. Speaking during an informal dialogue with UN member states and civil society groups, Otunnu invoked St. Francis of Assisi, quoting his prayer to emphasize the need for the UN to help bridge growing global divisions.
Otunnu, who previously served as a UN under-secretary-general, stressed that reform is not optional but an imperative for the institution's survival, warning against continuing with 'business as usual.' At 75, he is the oldest candidate in the race, with Ecuadorean diplomat Ivonne Baki also being 75 but born a few months later.
The successor to Guterres, who steps down at the end of the year, faces the challenge of revitalizing an organization perceived by critics as a bloated and costly bureaucracy. The selection process involves informal polls by the 15-member UN Security Council, with Denmark currently holding the chair. A second straw poll is scheduled for Friday. A previous poll in late July indicated former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as an early frontrunner, followed by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Rafael Grossi. The process may involve multiple rounds and could extend into October if consensus is not reached, with avoiding a veto from the five permanent Security Council members being crucial.