Uganda’s Olara Otunnu Gains Momentum in UN Secretary-General Race

NEW YORK, United States — Uganda’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Olara Otunnu, has recorded a significant improvement in the latest UN Security Council straw poll, giving his campaign fresh momentum in the race to succeed António Guterres.

Otunnu increased his “encourage” votes from two in the first poll to five in the second, held on August 21. His “discourage” votes fell from five, while five members expressed no opinion. The latest result represents one of the most notable gains among the candidates.

The improvement comes after Otunnu presented his vision for the United Nations during an interactive dialogue with UN member states and civil society groups in New York.

A former UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Otunnu has built his campaign around UN reform, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, moral leadership and restoring confidence in multilateralism.

In remarks reported by Reuters, Otunnu called for continued reform of the world body and the restoration of its moral authority, warning that the UN faces serious challenges amid growing global divisions.

His latest performance marks a notable shift from the first straw poll, when he was at the bottom of the field with two “encourage” votes.

The second poll shows that his campaign has gained support within the Security Council, although he remains behind the leading candidates.

For Uganda, the development provides renewed optimism as the country seeks to place an experienced African diplomat at the helm of the world body.

However, the straw poll is not an election, and Otunnu still faces a difficult diplomatic path. The eventual Secretary-General must secure a recommendation from the Security Council before the General Assembly makes the appointment, while avoiding opposition from any of the five permanent members.

With his support moving from two to five “encourage” votes, Otunnu’s campaign has demonstrated clear upward momentum and remains one to watch as the selection process continues.

Source: Reuters; Daily Monitor.