UN Security Council begins process to appoint next secretary-general
Antonio Guterres assumed the role in December 2016 and formally took office in January 2017, succeeding South Korean Ban Ki-Moon, who also served two terms.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has launched the formal process of appointing the next UN Secretary-General ahead of the expiry of Antonio Guterres’ term on December 31, 2026.
On Tuesday, the President of the Security Council, Michael Imran Kanu, together with the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Annalena Baerbock, submitted a joint letter inviting member states to present candidates to both presidencies.
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The letter notes that the Council will commence its selection by the end of July 2026 and intends to make its recommendation to the General Assembly within the required timeframe.
It further assured that the process will be “guided by the principles of transparency and inclusivity”.
Guterres assumed the role in December 2016 and formally took office in January 2017, succeeding South Korean Ban Ki-Moon, who also served two terms.
The position of Secretary-General is one of great importance; it requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and a firm commitment to the purposes and principles of Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations.
When renewing Guterres’ term in December 2015, the Council sought candidates with proven leadership and managerial skills, extensive experience in international relations, and strong diplomatic, communication, and multilingual abilities.
During his appointment process, the selection criterion shifted from an opaque system dominated by permanent members to a more collaborative approach between the Council and the General Assembly.
Under the revised process, the presidents of the Security Council and General Assembly jointly notify member states when candidates are formally nominated, circulating letters from nominating countries.
They also publish each candidate’s curriculum vitae and vision statement on a dedicated webpage managed by the General Assembly President. Previously, there was no public record of candidates, with names often suggested informally by permanent members.
Article 97 of the UN Charter stipulates that the Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
The next Secretary-General will serve a five-year term beginning in January 2027, after Guterres leaves office.
His successor will assume leadership at a time when the UN faces significant challenges to its effectiveness, including protracted conflicts, debates over its role in peacekeeping, and donor funding cuts led by the United States.
Notably, no woman has ever held the post.
“After 80 years, the time has come for a woman to lead this organisation; a woman who, with her leadership and vision, can provide the multilateral system with the credibility it needs to respond to the challenges of our time,” Chile’s representative to the Council said last week, calling for an inclusive process.
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