Lead

The United Nations has formally launched its search for a successor to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose second five-year term ends on 31 December. Among the contenders is Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, who joined the race as the seventh candidate after being nominated by Uganda on Friday, as reported by Africa News and AllAfrica.

Otunnu, 75, is the oldest of the current candidates. He previously served as UN under-secretary-general and special representative for children and armed conflict, and has held roles as Uganda's UN envoy and briefly as foreign minister. His nomination was conveyed in a letter to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, according to reports.

The selection process is expected to intensify this week as the 15-member UN Security Council begins straw polls — closed-door, anonymous votes to gauge preferences among candidates. Al Jazeera reported that a first informal poll on Thursday showed Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice president of Costa Rica, as the early frontrunner.

Coverage comparison

Africa News and AllAfrica both highlighted Otunnu's entry, noting his age and the fact that he is the seventh contender. AllAfrica also reported that the selection process is expected to start in earnest this week with straw polls in the Security Council.

Al Jazeera's coverage focused on the broader context, describing the UN as facing challenges including global conflict and pressure for reform. The outlet reported that Grynspan received 10 "encourage" votes in the first straw poll, with former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett attracting nine votes, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi in third place.

One report, carried by AllAfrica, detailed Otunnu's acknowledgment that his long-standing disagreements with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni remain unresolved, even as the government supports his campaign. The same report said Otunnu secured only two votes in the first straw poll, a result he attributed to a late start on the diplomatic circuit.

Key claims

  • Olara Otunnu has joined the contest to become the next UN secretary-general, the seventh candidate to do so.
  • Otunnu is 75 years old, making him the oldest of the current candidates.
  • The UN Security Council is due to hold its first closed-door, anonymous straw poll at the end of this month, according to Africa News; AllAfrica reported the process is expected to start this week.
  • An initial informal UN Security Council poll showed Rebeca Grynspan as the early frontrunner, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Otunnu has acknowledged that his disagreements with President Museveni remain unresolved, a claim reported by AllAfrica.
  • Otunnu secured only two votes in the first straw poll, according to the same report.
The other candidates include Rafael Grossi of Argentina, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Rebeca Grynspan, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal, as listed by multiple sources. Four of the seven candidates are women, and they participated in a televised debate on Thursday, Africa News reported.

The selection process is expected to continue with multiple straw polls until a candidate secures the required nine votes without a veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members — the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia. The selected candidate's name will then be submitted to the General Assembly for formal appointment, with the new secretary-general taking office on 1 January 2027.